Tag: agree

Max Scherzer, Mets agree to record contract as right-hander signs three-year, $130 million deal

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Max Scherzer is in agreement with the New York Mets on a three-year, $130 million deal. CBS Sports HQ’s Jim Bowden confirmed the two sides were putting the finishing touches on the contract Monday afternoon. The deal will give the right-handed starter the largest average annual value of any MLB player at $43.3 million. The Dodgers (who traded for Scherzer at July’s deadline), Giants and Angels were also rumored to be fighting for Scherzer’s services, but it appears they were all outbid by the Mets.

Some details of Scherzer’s contract:

  • Breaks Gerrit Cole’s previously held record ($36 million) for highest AAV in MLB history
  • Reportedly includes an opt out after the second year and a full no-trade clause
  • Is the fifth-largest deal in Mets history in terms of guaranteed money (shortstop Francisco Lindor signed the largest deal in club history at $341 million)

Scherzer, 37, will be joining his fifth team in 15 years in the majors. He came up with the Diamondbacks, was traded to the Tigers, signed as a free agent with the Nationals and was traded to the Dodgers last season. In his career, he’s 190-97 with a 3.16 ERA (134 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP and 3,020 strikeouts in 2,536 2/3 innings. The eight-time All-Star has won three Cy Young Awards.

Last season, Scherzer finished third in NL Cy Young voting (his sixth top-three finish and eighth top-five finish) when he went 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 236 strikeouts against 36 walks in 179 1/3 innings. After the trade, the Dodgers went 11-0 in his starts while he had a 1.98 ERA. In the playoffs, he had a 2.16 ERA, though the Dodgers lost two of his four starts. 

Even at his age, the most likely path for Scherzer in 2022 is once again to

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Corey Seager, Rangers agree to 10-year, $325 million contract as star shortstop leaves Dodgers

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Free agent shortstop Corey Seager has agreed to sign with the Texas Rangers, CBS Sports HQ’s Jim Bowden confirmed Monday. Seager, who had spent his entire career with the Dodgers, will be inking a 10-year contract worth $325 million.

Seager is the second massive commitment to a middle infielder the Rangers have made in the last two days. On Sunday, they agreed to terms with Marcus Semien on a seven-year deal worth $175 million. Seager and Semien will, evidently, form Texas’ double-play combination for most of the rest of the decade.

The Rangers have also signed starting pitcher Jon Gray and outfielder Kole Calhoun in recent days as they attempt to overhaul a roster that finished 60-102 last season. The Rangers haven’t made the postseason since 2016. They’ve finished last in three of the last four years, including each of the past two.

Seager, 27, entered the offseason ranked as CBS Sports’ second best free agent. Here’s what we wrote at the time:

Seager can really hit. He had the fourth-highest OPS+ among non-first-base infielders over the past two seasons, trailing only Fernando Tatis Jr., Trea Turner, and José Ramírez. He also ranked in the 80th percentile or better in 2021 in two important categories: 1) percentage of batted balls that had exit velocities above 95 mph, and 2) percentage of batted balls with a launch angle between 10 and 30 degrees. That he was able to post such numbers despite a trigger-happy approach (his swing rate was almost identical to Yermín Mercedes’) is a testament to his feel for contact. If there are areas for reservation with Seager, they concern his past back woes and his long-term defensive position. He tends to struggle coming in on balls, and it’s possible he’ll have to slide to the hot corner sooner

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