Former Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer gets paid handsomely

Following the end of the 2014 season, the Detroit Tigers had a decision to make. Do they pay Max Scherzer a pretty penny on a six- to eight-year deal in the $200+ million range, or do they let him walk?

The Detroit Tigers let him walk. Fans know how the story goes. Scherzer would go on to sign a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals and spend his time there before being traded. The Tigers would settle with Jordan Zimmermann.

After the 2021 season ended, Scherzer would wind up becoming a free agent, but his time on the market was put to rest today. The sweepstakes for Scherzer had been rumored to be mainly between both Los Angeles teams and the New York Mets.

Ultimately, Steve Cohen sent a Brink’s truck to Scherzer with a nice three-year, $130 million contract. The former Tigers starting pitcher is going to take home $43.3 million a season for the next three seasons to throw baseballs. Keep in mind; he is 37 years old.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer got PAID.

The Mets feel that Scherzer is their guy to help them add to the rotation after losing Noah Syndergaard, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels. While it is absurd to think that Scherzer will take home $43.3 million next season, that number is actually even higher than that.

Scherzer is going to be due money from the Nationals through the 2028 season. He will be paid $15 million annually in deferred money over the next seven seasons. That being said, if you tack on the $15 million the Nats will pay Scherzer to pitch against them, he will take home $58.3 million next season.

Once again, that means that Scherzer is going to get $58.3 million to tell managers “no” when they want to pull him out of the game and dominate hitters on the mound. Absurd. Not to mention that Scherzer, in his age 36 season finished third in the Cy Young voting. It would have been his fourth time winning the award.

In 2021, he would make 30 starts between his time with the Nationals and Dodgers, where he totaled 179.1 innings pitched. He posted a 2.46 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and struck out 236 hitters in the process.

Needless to say, the talent is there, and the contract is deserving. It just seems mind-boggling to think that the former Tigers pitcher is going to take home more money than some teams like the Baltimore Orioles are going to pay out next season.

Congratulations to Mad Max on his new contract, and best of luck with the Mets organization.