Captain Obvious Says: Max Scherzer Is Long Gone
By Tony Fischer
Is there anything more obvious than the fact the Max Scherzer will not be with Detroit Tigers next season. Ever since Dave Dombrowski failed to lock down Scherzer prior to the 2014 season, the clock has been ticking on the former Cy Young award winners time a Detroit uniform.
If the writing was already on the wall it was underlined with neon glow in the dark paint when the Detroit Tigers acquired David Price at the trade deadline. Price in under club control for the 2015 season and gave the Tigers an insurance policy in the event the Max Scherzer took his talents elsewhere. David Price won’t be a free agent until 2016 giving the Detroit Tigers a whole season to sign him to an extension. The money they save on Max could be given to David, if the price is right.
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When Max leaves town the Detroit Tigers rotation will be just fine. With Verlander, Price, Sanchez and Porcello the Detroit Tigers still have a formidable rotation. The fifth spot would be open for competition giving the Tigers an opportunity to develop another one of the power arms Dave Dombrowksi has stocked the minor leagues with.
Before you scoff at the notion of developing the Detroit Tigers pitching talent over signing a high-priced free agent like Max Scherzer consider this. Developing minor league talent is a good thing and letting Mad Max become a road warrior allows the Detroit Tigers to do just that.
Detroit pitching prospects have been the involved in every major trade acquisition Dave Dombrowski has made. Andrew Miller was part of the deal that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit and Jacob Turner helped us reacquire Omar Infante. Both players have played key roles on division championship teams.
And lets not forget Drew Smyly who Dave Dombrowski turned into the aforementioned David Price.
As if the all the evidence presented here wasn’t enough there are the comments that Dave Dombrowksi made regarding Max Scherzer’s free agency during his year-end press conference.
"“It’s apparent his representative (Scott Boras) wanted him to test free agency.” He said the team’s odds of re-signing Scherzer to a contract extension this past season didn’t improve."
The odds couldn’t get much worse than after Scherzer cut off negotiations with the Tigers pre-season. Can they?
The fact is there are many more reason to let Scherzer walk that to keep him in Detroit. Don’t misunderstand it has been great watching Max Scherzer develop into a top shelf starting pitcher. But as the saying goes “All good things must hit the free agent market and score a big payday” ….or something like that.