Sources: Mets move Scherzer to Rangers after ace agrees to the deal

In a trade on Saturday, the New York Mets sent star right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers. This strengthens the Rangers’ rotation for a run at the World Series while the failing Mets continue to break up, according to ESPN sources who confirmed multiple stories.

Earlier in the day, a possible deal was made, but it depended on Scherzer giving up his right to not be traded. Scherzer agreed to the deal to go to Texas, where he will join the American League West-leading Rangers, who are one game ahead of the Houston Astros with a record of 60-45. The day before, he was upset that the Mets had traded closer David Robertson.

In exchange, the Mets will get 21-year-old middle infielder and centre fielder Luisangel Acuna, who is expected to be one of New York’s best talents.

Acuna was playing for the Rangers’ Double-A Frisco team. In 82 games, he hit.315, had seven home runs, 51 RBIs, and 42 stolen bases. He is Ronald Acuna Jr.’s younger brother. Ronald Acuna Jr. is a star for the Atlanta Braves.

As part of the deal, Scherzer has chosen to stay with the Rangers for the 2024 season. The Rangers will pay Scherzer $22.5 million, and the Mets will pay more than $35 million to cover the rest of his contract.

Saturday night, after the Mets lost 11-6 to the Washington Nationals, New York manager Buck Showalter said only that the deal “hasn’t been done” yet.

Later, after the Rangers lost to the San Diego Padres by a score of 4-0, Texas manager Bruce Bochy said, “There’s nothing I can give you right now. No talk. I just got here, and no one has talked to me yet. I don’t know where it is at the moment.”

The Rangers have the most productive offence in baseball, but they went into the trade deadline looking to improve their pitching after their most famous free agent signing, Jacob deGrom, had Tommy John surgery in June that ended his season. They made a deal for Scherzer even though he has the highest yearly pay in Major League Baseball at $43.3 million and could get out of the last year of his contract after this season.

Scherzer, who is 39 years old, is a future Hall of Famer whose 2023 season, by his own high standards, has been up and down. He is 9-4 and has an ERA of 4.01. In 10723 innings, he has walked 30 people and struck out 121. He has given up the most home runs in the National League, which is 23.

Before the 2022 season, Scherzer moved to New York and did well on the field, with a 2.29 ERA in 14513 innings over 23 starts.

The Mets added co-ace Justin Verlander over the winter. They also had an MLB-record payroll of more than $350 million and were looking for their first title since 1986.

They never found their balance, and now, with a record of 49-55, they are 18 games behind Atlanta, who is in first place in the NL East. The trade of Robertson started the Mets’ process of getting rid of players, and the trade of Scherzer keeps it going. Sources say the Mets are likely to move even more players before Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Texas, on the other hand, wants to use Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Grey, Dane Dunning, Martin Perez, and Andrew Heaney in its playoff staff. In June, they traded for left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman, and they’ve been talking to other teams about more bullpen arms, including Robertson, who was finally moved to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.