RADIO
If the Washington Nationals weren't already the front-runners in the NL East, they certainly are now.
Max Scherzer, the top prize of the 2014-2015 MLB free agency, has landed in the District of Columbia. He has signed a seven year deal worth $210 million. The Nationals, who already had one of the deepest rotations top to bottom, now add Scherzer along with Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman, Doug Fister and Tanner Roark, the latter of whom will likely transfer to a long relief role. The move also gives Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo the ability to pull the trigger on trading away Zimmerman, around whom trade rumors have been swirling for a long time.
One of the more interesting notes that could have signaled that this deal was coming is Rizzo’s past with Scherzer. Back in 2006, while Rizzo was the Vice President of Scouting with the Diamondbacks, Scherzer was the 11th overall pick the Arizona. The Nationals also have a nice working relationship with Scherzer’s agent Scott Boras. Boras’s clients in D.C. include Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon.
Scherzer, 31, has been a solid pitcher since his debut in Arizona in 2008. Yet it wasn't until his 2013 Cy Young Award winning campaign that Scherzer became an elite front of the rotation starter. In his past two seasons, Scherzer has gone 39-8 with a 3.02 ERA and a 492/119 K/BB rate. He has also averaged a K/9 rate of 10.46 over the last three seasons. His 21 & 18 wins in 2013 and 2014 led the AL, and he has made back-to-back All-Star teams.
Scherzer and the Nationals will have a much easier road this season than he would have with the Tigers. Only the Marlins and Mets have really improved this offseason, and their biggest offensive acquisitions have been Martin Prado and Michael Cuddyer, respectively. Both of those ballparks remain extremely pitcher friendly. The Braves and Phillies are both gearing up for the future, trading away big pieces of their lineup recently. This is the Nationals division to win, and Scherzer instantly makes them National League and World Series favorites.
While Scherzer’s deal will keep him with the Nationals for the next seven years, his contract will defer half of his $210 million, paying him $15 million over the next 14 seasons, keeping his checks coming until 2028. This must bring flashbacks to Mets fans, who are still paying Bobby Bonilla $1.19 million until 2035 despite not playing in Queens since 2000.
Since Scherzer rejected the Tigers qualifying offer, the Nationals will be giving up their first round, 27th overall pick, and Detroit will be rewarded with the 35th pick in the compensatory first round.
