Deconstruction of Mets Begins With Trades of David Robertson and Max Scherzer

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler insists his club is not rebuilding, but there is definitely something like that afoot. Last week he traded veteran closer David Robertson to Miami for two minor leaguers. This got the attention of three time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who publicly asked what direction the club was going and that he wanted to meet with the front office and talk about it. Scherzer did speak to Eppler, and agreed to waive the no trade clause in his contract. On Saturday night, July 29th, the Mets announced that the 39 year old Scherzer had been traded to the Texas Rangers for highly regarded minor leaguer Luisangel Acuna, brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.

The Rangers were 60-46 after completion of play on July 30th, in 1st place by one game over the Houston Astros in the A.L West. The Mets were 50-55, a full 18 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East, and 6 ½ games behind in the race for the final N.L wild card. The Mets won 101 games last season and their underachievement this season is one of the big surprises in baseball. There have been rumors that perhaps 40 year old Justin Verlander, another three time Cy Young winner, would be dealt before the August 1st trade deadline. Verlander picked up the victory in the Mets’ 5-2 win over Washington on July 30th, the 250th of his career. The Mets are off on July 31st before opening a series at Kansas City on August 1st.

This is a cautionary tale that paying big money for big name players doesn’t guarantee championships. The Mets are also paying shortstop Francisco Lindor $341 million over 10 years, and outfielder Brandon Nimmo $162 million over eight years. Verlander’s contract is for $43.3 million each for 2023 and ’24, while Scherzer is the same (the ’24 contract was a player option, which Scherzer agreed to pick up as part of the trade). On the horizon, slugging first baseman Pete Alonzo is arbitration eligible next year and would be a free agent in’25. It will no doubt cost the Mets a tidy sum to keep him.

Speaking of Max Scherzer, here’s a highlight reel of his 200th career victory from last September, when he threw six perfect innings: