NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Mets are finalizing a deal to bring eight-time All-Star pitcher Max Scherzer to New York in a three-year, $130-million contract, according to media reports.
The news ends rampant speculation over where the highly sought-after 37-year-old free agent would land, with numerous Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises rumored to have courted the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
The Mets did not immediately respond to a request for comment but posted “#LGM” to their Twitter account, an acronym that stands for “Let’s Go Mets.”
The right-handed ace picked up a World Series title with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and has pitched two no-hitters in his career. In September he recorded his 3,000th strikeout, the 19th player in MLB to do so.
The news was a welcome boost for the Mets loyal, who saw fan favorite and 2016 All-Star pitcher Noah Syndergaard sign a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month after playing six seasons in New York.
The team started on a high last season but suffered a meltdown with a 29-45 record in the second half, frustrating fans who had hoped for a fresh start with new owner, billionaire Steve Cohen, taking over a year ago.
The Mets went on a shopping spree late last week, with reports emerging that they had agreed to sign two-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder Starling Marte to a four-year, $78-million contract and outfielder Mark Canha to a two-year $26.5-million deal.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; editing by Clare Fallon)
