Update 1:35 pm
The numbers have been finalized as the Nationals and Scherzer agree on a seven-year/$210 Million dollar deal.
Can this be the best rotation in baseball?
Original 12:00 am
Jon Heyman is reporting that the Washington Nationals are going to sign free agent pitcher Max Scherzer to a seven-year deal. So far there hasn’t been any information as to the dollar figure. The information broke earlier on Sunday that Washington was close to a deal, but there was a report that maybe one other team was still in the mix.
Scherzer, 30, will join a solid rotation which already has Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez, and Doug Fister. The former Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star went 18-5 last season with an ERA of 3.15. He has been one of the best pitchers in the American League over the last two seasons with the Detroit Tigers, and so far in his career he is 91-50, and has won 15 or more games in each of the last four seasons.
Max scherzer has an agreement on a 7-year deal with nats. Dollars are not known.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 19, 2015
Max Scherzer has agreed to a contract with the #Nats, source confirms @JonHeymanCBS report. — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 19, 2015
I have confirmed that Max Scherzer has reached an agreement with the #Nationals.#Nats #MLB
— William Ladson (@washingnats) January 19, 2015
Earlier this offseason it was reported that Scherzer was seeking a contract in the area of $200 million, so it will be interesting to see what the actual dollar amount will be. With the addition of the top free agent pitcher on the market, the Nationals have to at least be in the conversation of the team to beat in the NL East, and potentially in all of the National League.
James Shields still remains on the market, and now that Scherzer has signed it seems that it will be only a matter of time. It was last reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks had been serious suitors for Shields who’s contract demands might have dropped from the $100+ million he was looking to receive.
John Ginder
John has recently graduated from the University at Albany with a B.A. in History and is currently finishing his Master's Degree there as well in secondary education. After being away from school for over two decades he decided to go back and work towards his dream of becoming a social studies teacher.
