Top Backup Plans for Each Loser of the Max Scherzer Sweepstakes

After months of patiently waiting, Max Scherzer has finally found a new employer. 

The right-handed starter has landed with the Washington Nationals to join a super-rotation in the nation's capital, according to Barry Svrluga and Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post. 

The Nats won out on the bidding war for the 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner, which means a number of teams lost out. What follows is a look around the league at how the clubs that missed on the opportunity to sign Scherzer will shore up their rotations heading into the 2015 season. 

For some teams, it will simply be a matter of counting on a promising young starter to step up. For other teams, Plan B will involve checking in on James Shields, the remaining unsigned ace. Plus, there's always the trade route for teams to consider. 

Detroit Tigers

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The Backup Plan

With Scherzer's run with the Detroit Tigers now up, the team doesn't necessarily have to do anything at all. Based on the current roster, the reigning AL Central champs could trot out a rotation of the following five pitchers:

• David Price
• Justin Verlander
• Anibal Sanchez
• Shane Greene
• Alfredo Simon

Then again, it wouldn't hurt for the team to plan ahead. Both Simon and Price are set to hit the free-agent market after the 2015 season. According to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, the agent of starter James Shields "has been in recent contact" with Detroit.

Inking Shields would provide the Tigers with a highly consistent starter, as the right-hander has racked up at least 200 innings of work in each of the past eight seasons. As Morosi points out, signing with Detroit would offer Shields the chance to join a rotation that also includes Price, who is his best friend in the game. 

Houston Astros

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The Backup Plan

Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is looking to add another starter to the staff before Opening Day rolls around, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

As Luhnow explained, via McTaggart, the club is on the verge of joining the bidding war for a prominent arm like Shields: "I don't know if we're quite there yet. We have not engaged with either of the big free agents left as of yet. That may change as the offseason goes on."

Aside from the free-agent front, the Astros are in a prime position to make a splash in the trade market. Houston's farm system is the fourth best in baseball, per Bleacher Report. As for the big league roster, the Astros also have Chris Carter as a potential trade chip, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

New York Yankees

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The Backup Plan

The New York Yankees might not be done spending just yet. 

“Look, it’s not over till it’s over,” said principal owner Hal Steinbrenner, via Anthony McCarron and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News. “We still have a full month before spring training. We’re always going to continue to improve. I’m not putting a cap on it.”

Dishing out a megadeal to Shields would be at the top of their list. The second option would be to do nothing at all to upgrade the starting rotation. 

As the staff is currently constructed, that would just be too big of a risk to take. The Yankees' status as a contender would be much more legitimate if the team plugged Shields into the rotation and jettisoned Chris Capuano, the scheduled No. 5 starter, to the bullpen.

Boston Red Sox

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The Backup Plan

The Boston Red Sox have been one of the busiest teams in baseball this offseason. 

The club has added impact bats like Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and has revamped the rotation by bringing in Justin Masterson, Wade Miley and Rick Porcello. One move that the Red Sox have yet to make is the acquisition of a No. 1 starter.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, there's an outside chance that Shields could be that ace. As Rosenthal explains, the Red Sox are one of the teams that could jump into the race for the right-hander if his price tag drops considerably. 

If Shields isn't in the Red Sox's future, a big-time trade could be a compelling alternative. The Red Sox have all sorts of trade chips, as the team has the No. 3 minor league system in baseball, per Bleacher Report.

Back in December, Rosenthal reported that Boston had talked to the Washington Nationals about the idea of trading for Jordan Zimmermann. Acquiring Zimmermann would be the perfect way for the Red Sox to conclude what has already been a highly successful offseason.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.