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The New York Mets first commenced a roster deconstruction on July 27 after trading away closer David Robertson for lower-ranked prospects. An extensive fire sale would unofficially open for business when the front office sent shockwaves across MLB by opting to flip future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers for Luisangel Acuna, the brother of 2023 NL MVP front-runner Ronald Acuna Jr. It wasn't long thereafter that fellow first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander would follow Scherzer out the door.
While it effectively brings to a faint close an exciting era of Mets baseball identified by ace pitching, redraft fantasy managers look ahead to Scherzer’s fantasy prospects in Arlington. The Rangers aim to supplement their wounded rotation and capitalize on one of baseball’s most explosive offenses in recent memory.
What can fantasy managers expect out of Scherzer in his new digs? Let’s dive into quite an optimistic outlook.
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Which Factors Have Held Max Scherzer Back In '23?
Scherzer’s Mets career culminated with perhaps his weakest statistical season since evolving into a perennial Cy Young candidate back in 2013. The 39-year-old holds a 4.01 ERA (4.73 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, 1.9 HR/9, and 10.1 K/9 in 107.2 innings pitched over 19 games started this year. Each of those figures represents Scherzer's worst since 2011.
It’s fair to wonder if the decorated veteran's uneven campaign can be attributed to New York’s tumultuous season perhaps weighing down on Scherzer as the year unraveled. The right-hander owns a 4.65 ERA with 16 home runs allowed during 60 IP across his most recent 10 GS.
“Mad Max”, lauded for his intensity and competitiveness, heads to the Lone Star State to join the pursuit of the first-place Rangers' first playoff berth in seven years. Scherzer lands in time to help fill the void left behind not only by 2022 Mets co-ace Jacob deGrom (elbow) but also Nathan Eovaldi (forearm), who hit the 15-day injured list this past Sunday.
What Does Max Scherzer Leave Behind in Queens and Enter in Texas?
Citi Field annually ranks as a pitcher’s paradise for its spacious dimensions. However, the shift in ballpark factor isn’t a glaring one; Scherzer now takes the ball in home outings at arguably baseball’s most neutral environment in Globe Life Field. We can probably cancel this caveat off the list of potential downgrades to Scherzer’s rest-of-season fantasy value. 19 of the righty's 23 homers, which signify his most apparent shortcoming, have come on the road, anyway.
What Scherzer leaves behind in Queens in terms of an advantageous layout should hopefully be reimbursed by healthy run support via the top-scoring Rangers offense (611 team runs). The eight-time All-Star's fantasy prospects become even more exciting when we factor in what he accomplished after joining the contending Los Angeles Dodgers back at the ‘21 deadline.
Finally removed from the Washington Nationals rebuild, Scherzer absolutely dealt to the tune of a 1.98 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a sublime 89:8 K:BB. He amassed a 7-0 record through 68.1 IP and 11 starts as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers after that move. This even includes two five-run flops to end the season when Scherzer’s ‘21 late-year arm fatigue may have initially begun.
Scherzer is scheduled to make his Texas debut on Aug. 3 versus the Chicago White Sox with a mouthwatering spot against the Oakland Athletics on deck. The new Rangers arm is looking at some additional momentum-building opportunities after throwing seven one-run innings with seven punchouts versus his old Nats club last Saturday in what amounted to his Mets career finale.
With enough to like on his '23 Statcast profile, Scherzer offers a ton of fantasy upside here for a confident bet-on-talent, post-trade surge. Fantasy managers should seriously consider exploring buy-low propositions while the three-time Cy Young Award winner's price tag remains in check.
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