Max Scherzer Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Pitcher

Max Scherzer entered the 2014-15 offseason as one of the hottest names on the free-agent market, with multiple teams chasing his services. Scherzer reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals just after midnight on Jan. 19.

Continue for updates.

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Scherzer Reportedly Agrees to Deal With Nationals 

Monday, Jan. 19

Max Scherzer has reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports provided the financial details:

On Jan. 18 Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reported that a deal between Scherzer and the Nationals was almost complete.

Adding Scherzer to a rotation that already features Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmermann elevates the Nationals to one of the most dangerous teams in the National League. The team already lead the NL with a rotation ERA of 3.04 in 2014. 

Rumors have surfaced that the team may look to deal either Zimmerman or Strasburg if the team were to land Scherzer, so the rotation is not set in stone with spring training only a month away. 

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Scherzer Talking 7-Year Deal with Multiple Teams

Sunday, Jan. 18

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that Scherzer is talking to multiple teams, including the Washington Nationals, about a megadeal:

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Rangers Not Pursuing Scherzer

Friday, Jan. 16

Jim Bowden of ESPN provided an update from Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, who said the team is not involved in talks with Scherzer:

Sean Tepper of TheScore.com previously passed along comments from Texas Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine, who downplayed the team's chances of landing Scherzer:

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He would be a great addition, but it would probably take us making a trade or two to free up some money to truly play on those types of players. …

…When we made the moves last off-season with Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo, we kind of knowingly did it in a place where we probably had to stand down on the big ticket free agents in the next cycle or two,' he said. 'So I think it's probably a bit of a longshot.

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Cardinals Reportedly Interested in Scherzer

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi have the latest on Scherzer:

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The St. Louis Cardinals say they like their starting rotation. But that is not preventing them from pursuing a major upgrade.

The team is exploring trades for left-handers Cole Hamels and David Price and the possibility of signing free-agent right-hander Max Scherzer, according to major-league sources.

No deal appears close on any front, and it’s possible that the Cardinals will simply decide that the acquisition cost in each case is too high.

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On Dec. 9, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first linked the St. Louis Cardinals to Scherzer:

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The Cardinals, who are somewhat surprisingly not involved in the Jon Lester sweepstakes, have apparently at least considered a pursuit of hometown star Max Scherzer.

The Cardinals met at some point on Scherzer, and word is that at least a couple of Cardinals players or former players have called Scherzer to make a pitch about the team. Scherzer, as a product of suburban Chesterfield, Mo., Parkway Central and the University of Missouri, obviously is already familiar with the town.

The Cardinals probably wouldn't be seen as a favorite for such a major free agent, as they are an oganization that's known for fiscal responsibility. With Scherzer having turned down $144 million from the Tigers in spring training and Lester likely to to top that, Scherzer's contract could approach $200 million. That doesn't necessarily sound like the Cardinals way.

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Yankees GM Comments on Scherzer

Monday, Dec. 15

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman did not sound very optimistic about signing free agent Max Scherzer when speaking about him on Monday, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com:

On Nov. 19, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reported the Yankees were not planning to chase Scherzer or most top-tier free agents:

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When discussing the Yankees and marquee free agents, you never say never. But when it comes to the biggest names on the market this winter, the Bombers are saying "Not right now."

Despite recent buzz that the Bombers are considering a run at Max Scherzer, sources said the Yankees have not abandoned their plan to stay away from the top batch of free agents, looking instead at mid-level starting pitchers to bolster their rotation while continuing their search for a shortstop and third baseman.

The Daily News reported earlier this month that the Yankees did not plan to be players for the top free agents, and three weeks into the process, not much has changed.

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At the time, Feinsand also broke down the Yankees' thinking behind not chasing the former Tigers ace:

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Signing a player such as Scherzer would tack on another $25 million or so to the payroll, while the Yankees would still need to add a reliever — either David Robertson or another late-inning replacement such as Luke Gregerson or Andrew Miller — as well as a shortstop and third baseman.

With Tanaka and Sabathia already set to earn more than $20 million each, adding a third such pitcher is not in their plans, a source said. Brian Cashman’s desire to hold on to the No. 19 pick in June’s draft — the Yankees’ highest pick since 2005 and only their second top-20 pick in the past two decades — is also a factor.

There are only eight players — Scherzer, James Shields, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Liriano, Ervin Santana and Melky Cabrera — who would cost the Yankees that pick, making it unlikely any of them wind up in pinstripes.

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On Nov. 17, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first linked the Yankees to Scherzer:

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The Yankees and Scherzer's agent, Scott Boras, are said to have had a brief contact sometime since returning from the GM meetings, and word is the Yankees may "revisit" their inclination not to make any big expenditures this winter.

The early word was that they were going to avoid the biggest free agents beyond their own closer David Robertson, and that seems to hold true, with the possible exception of Scherzer. Yankees people have long admired Lester, the other big-time free agent pitcher in his prime, but it seems Scherzer is the one they are seriously considering.

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Tigers Out On Scherzer

Thursday, Dec. 11

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Max Scherzer's chances of returning to Detroit in free agency:

"The Tigers' focus is on retaining Max Scherzer. They are prepared to spend big, big dollars. Want to keep Price for 2015, too," reported ESPN's Buster Olney on Dec. 9.

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Scherzer Seeking Megadeal

Tuesday, Dec. 9

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported on how much money Max Scherzer is looking to land in his new contract: 

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Scherzer Plans to Explore Open Market

Tuesday, Nov. 11

The Detroit Tigers had a disappointing end to the 2014 season, getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series. Max Scherzer, who started Game 1 of that series, may have made his final start for the team.   

One of the biggest free agents on the market this winter, Scherzer is in line for a huge payday coming off a Cy Young award in 2013. He followed that up by setting career highs in innings pitched (220.1) and strikeouts (252) in 2014. 

According to Chris Iott of MLive.com, Scherzer rejected the Tigers' qualifying offer and will explore the market as the Tigers debate what their role in negotiations will be:

Scherzer's future with the Tigers has felt bleak for a long time. He reportedly rejected a contract extension in spring training that would have paid him $144 million over six years, per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports:

Scott Boras, who represents Scherzer, addressed reporters, including James Schmehl of MLive.com, about any scrutiny his client was taking as a result of turning down such a large contract:

"Look, when you do these things, with the type of money involved, you're always the village idiot until the player is outside the village," Boras said. "Believe me, I have 15 ways to explain it."

Scherzer didn't discuss a lot about his upcoming free agency, other than this statement to Jason Beck of MLB.com after turning down Detroit's offer last spring:

Things were further complicated for Scherzer when the Tigers acquired David Price at the trade deadline in July. Price is entering his final year of arbitration in 2015 after making $14 million last season.

With Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Anibal Sanchez and Joe Nathan guaranteed a combined $92 million, per Cot's Baseball Contracts, plus whatever Price and Rick Porcello will make through arbitration, the Tigers' payroll doesn't appear to be flush with a lot of wiggle room. 

Since coming to Detroit in a three-team trade with Arizona and New York, Scherzer has been one of the best and most dependable pitchers in baseball. In addition to his Cy Young award two years ago, the right-hander has made at least 31 starts in each of the last five years and increased his strikeout totals each of the last three years. 

Even though long-term deals for pitchers often end badly, Scherzer does have an advantage of hitting free agency at the relatively young age of 30. He's six months younger than Jon Lester and more than two years younger than James Shields, the other high profile free agent arms available. 

Given his track record of dominance, Scherzer's free agency figures to be one of the most fascinating and lucrative of the offseason. 

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