Max Scherzer was a dominant force in the NL East, winning a pair of Cy Young Awards, leading the league in strikeouts three times and pitching the Nationals to a World Series.
He's coming back to the division, this time wearing a different uniform.
Scherzer has inked a deal to join the Mets, according to multiple reports, giving New York one of the most formidable one-two punches in the sport with ace Jacob deGrom.
As would be expected, the deal is a massive one for the 37-year-old right-hander, who will now make the highest average annual value of any player in the sport. Sporting News breaks down his contract details.
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Max Scherzer contract details
Scherzer has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the sport over the past few seasons. He's now getting paid better than anyone.
The deal with the Mets is for three years, $130 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The contract will also have an opt out after the second season.
Max Scherzer’s deal with the Mets is done, per source. Three years, $130 million, an opt out after the second season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
Along with the opt-out, there is also a full no-trade clause, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Max Scherzer also has a complete no-trade clause in his contract with the #Mets
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 29, 2021
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And if Scherzer did decide to opt out, he would not be leaving more than the average annual value on the table. According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, Scherzer will make $43.3 million each year of his deal.
Scherzer’s contract calls for $43.33M per year. #Mets
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 29, 2021
With an average annual value of $43.3 million, Scherzer will break the previous record of AAV, set two years ago when Gerrit Cole signed for the Yankees on a nine-year, $324 million deal that averaged $36 million per season.
ESPN Stats & Info also reported that at 37, Scherzer is now the oldest player to receive a $100 million contract, surpassing the previous record of Kevin Brown, who at age 33, signed the first $100 million deal.
The 37-year-old Max Scherzer would easily be the oldest player in MLB history to sign a $100M contract.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 29, 2021
It's currently 33-year-old Kevin Brown when he signed the first $100M deal in MLB history back in 1998. https://t.co/0vNozIYwU1 pic.twitter.com/OUpJc6q8yC
This deal is now the second largest in total value signed this offseason, surpassed only by Marcus Semien's seven-year, $175 million deal with the Rangers. Other notable signings by right-handed pitchers include Kevin Gausman to the Blue Jays (five years, $110 million), Justin Verlander to the Astros (one year, $25 million), Noah Syndergaard to the Angels (one year, $21 million), and Jon Gray to the Rangers (four years, $56 million).
Max Scherzer career earnings
Scherzer has enjoyed a very lucrative MLB career. According to Spotrac, Scherzer has netted $139,575,000 during his time in the big leagues.
This is not the first major deal Scherzer has signed.
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He signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals back in 2015. That deal will continue to pay him well, as he is slated to earn about $15 million per year from Washington from 2022 through 2028, though as part of the trade with the Dodgers, Los Angeles will be on the hook for $35 million of the remaining $105 million he's set to collect from the Washington deal. So the Nationals will be sending a $15 million paycheck to watch Scherzer pitch against them.
By the time his deferred payments are over, he will have earned nearly $400 million in his pitching career.
