The top free agent starter could make a decision soon, and the Giants are still among the teams he’s reportedly considering.
The MLB’s collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and Max Scherzer is expected to sign with a team before then, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets are each linked to Scherzer, per Heyman.
When the Nationals decided to trade Scherzer at the deadline this year to kickstart their rebuild, the Giants were among the finalists for his suitors. He strongly preferred the west coast, and it appeared he would’ve waived his no-trade clause to go to San Francisco.
But the Dodgers made an offer no NL West team could feasibly match, which also netted them star infielder Trea Turner.
Scherzer thrived with the Dodgers, recording a 1.98 ERA in 11 starts. He went 7-0 with LAD in the regular season, but took a loss to the Giants in Game 3 of the NLDS. Ultimately he “overcooked” his arm, and the fatigue set in during the World Series.
Even at 37, Scherzer is the top free agent starting pitcher. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is more proven than Robbie Ray and Carlos Rodón, more accomplished than Marcus Stroman and healthier than Clayton Kershaw. Kevin Gausman, who put together two excellent seasons in San Francisco, likely fits into the category with Ray and Rodón.
And Scherzer’s age could actually be an asset for the Giants. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has been historically averse to handing out long-term deals to starting pitchers; the three-year deal for Anthony DeSclafani was the longest he’s extended with SF. Gausman is expected to ink a five-year contract, while Scherzer will likely prefer big money over the short term.
The Giants have roughly $99 million committed to their 2022 payroll, and only DeSclafani on the books in 2024. Splurging in the short term shouldn’t be an issue. Slotting an eight-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer into the rotation wouldn’t be, either.
With the Dec. 1 deadline in mind, Giants fans only have a few days to daydream of a possible Max Scherzer-Logan Webb 1-2 punch.
