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Scherzer: Mets said '24 would be 'transition' year
Max Scherzer said he waived his no-trade clause to be dealt to the Rangers after conversations with the Mets' front office made it clear it viewed 2024 as a "transition" year before looking to compete in 2025 and 2026.www.espn.com
"[Eppler's] answer was that the team is now kind of shifting vision and that they're looking to compete now for 2025 and 2026, and that 2024, that it was not going to be a reload situation in New York, and that it was going to be more of a transition in 2024," Scherzer said when he was introduced by the Rangers on Tuesday, two days after the deal was announced.
Since that was different than what he had heard from Cohen, Scherzer called the owner.
"He basically articulated the same vantage point. That was the new vision for the Mets, that was the new timeline that they were identifying," the pitcher said. "So once it became, that's the vision for the Mets, then I said, 'yes, I will waive my no-trade clause underneath those pretenses.'"
Justin Verlander, another three-time Cy Young Award winner, followed Scherzer to the AL West race on Tuesday, when he returned to the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros in a deal just before the trade deadline.
"We did get to talk right there at the end of just understanding that there's been a vision change in the Mets," Scherzer said of his twice former teammate.
New York's record-high payroll was a projected $365 million just more than a month ago, but that hasn't bought a winning team. The Mets went into Tuesday night at 50-55, which was 17½ games out of first place in the NL East and six games -- and several teams -- below the final wild-card spot.
The Mets are paying Texas $35.51 million over the next 14 months as part of the Scherzer trade, leaving the Rangers in effect responsible for $22.5 million owed to the 39-year-old pitcher through next season. Scherzer opted in for 2024 before the deal with the Rangers was completed.
Mets closer David Robertson had already been traded to Miami for two minor leaguers before Scherzer made his final start for New York on Friday night. Scherzer said he had already gotten texts from players he knew across the league talking about trade offers and asking if he would accept them.
The Mets will send Houston around $35.5 million at least, covering a majority of the remaining roughly $57.5 million Verlander is guaranteed. New York will pay around $4.2 million this year and $31.3 million in 2024.
If Verlander pitches 140 innings next year and triggers his $35 million conditional player option for 2025, the Mets would pay another $17.5 million if Verlander exercises the option.
JV is back in the fold, and we got the regulars working their way back into good health...They're going all in & really trying to win that division from the Astros. Astros need to try to get Verlander back, the pitching is not strong as last season.
You said they need to get Justin back too and they did.JV is back in the fold, and we got the regulars working their way back into good health...
Pitching is pitching but you can't make a mistake with our lineup or you'll pay
@jack walsh13 @playahaitian
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Cohen: Couldn't promise Scherzer we'd be 'all-in'
Although the Mets are planning for 2025 and beyond, owner Steve Cohen said he doesn't want to "roll a team out that we're going to be embarrassed about" and still thinks New York will be "highly competitive" in 2024.www.espn.com
Cohen said he'd spoken with both Verlander and Scherzer, and related part of a conversation with Scherzer that helped clarify the difference in immediate visions between the owner and players.
"You've got to remember, Max and Justin, they're at a different point in their career," he said. "Max asked me straight: 'Are you going to be all-in at free agency next year?' And I couldn't give him that promise. I couldn't give him that assurance, and he wants to win now. If he felt like our odds were smaller than he originally thought, then he made his decision, and Justin did, too. And I respect that. They're good guys and they're at a different point in their career."
The 39-year-old Scherzer waived his no-trade clause to accept a deal to Texas that was announced Sunday. The 40-year-old Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner like Scherzer, accepted a trade back to Houstonon Tuesday.
A goddamn shame.@dik cashmere @jack walsh13
Wtf Angels???
SHOHEI INJURED AGAIN
STILL HIT A HOME RUN AND STOLE A BASE.
Overworking him@dik cashmere @jack walsh13
Wtf Angels???
SHOHEI INJURED AGAIN
STILL HIT A HOME RUN AND STOLE A BASE.
Down goes Anderson!!
Like how he tossed that glove. Tim was ready to box
KOPECH
Holding back Ramirez and putting him in a choke hold
His ass should've been holding back Tim Anderson.
But it's allright. Tim got his ass knocked back.
Not fair at all
THIS IS WHAT THE MEDIA DOESN'T TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO PHILLY FANS. TURNER IS STRUGGLING LIKE A MUTHAFUCKA BUT HE IS STILL SHOWN MAD LOVE.
National media would rather talk about snowballs thrown at Santa instead back in the fuckin 60's.
And the next night........
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