The New York Mets are headed in the opposite direction from where everyone thought they’d be this season. That includes Max Scherzer who is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Coming off a 101-win season, the Mets set out to make it known that they wanted to win. However, having the highest player payroll in MLB History has gotten them nowhere. They have been nothing short of a disappointment so far this season. With little over a month to go until the Trade Deadline, the Mets may become the most interesting team to follow. Will they decide to sell? Will they buy and add more to the payroll? Or will they be sitting ducks and stay put?
The management and front office would probably prefer that the team puts itself back into contention. Though, that in itself is not going to be easy. Hopes of winning the NL East are gone, and the team sits 8 1/2 games out of the last Wild Card spot with six teams to surpass.
If the Mets intend to pivot and sell at the deadline, many teams may look to ponder at Scherzer. Though, he has full control on where he goes due to his no-trade clause. The three-time Cy Young award winner is in the second season of a three-year, $130MM free-agent deal.
The deal contains a full no-trade clause meaning that Max Scherzer has full control of his destiny and where he plays in the future. According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Scherzer would be amendable to waiving the provision to play for a team with a legitimate 2023 championship aspiration.
If this is the case, it would not be the first time that Scherzer has waived his no-trade clause. The 38-year-old did so in 2021 with the Nationals, when he and Trae Turner landed with the Dodgers. However, this also doesn’t mean a trade is likely. The Mets will not pull the plug on the 2023 season until necessary. There are still a few weeks to get in contention before the front office makes that decision.
Even if the Mets head in that direction, they’d probably be likely to move rental players like Tommy Pham and Dave Robertson first. Scherzer would have to forfeit the largest single-year salary in MLB history in order to join them on the trade block.
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