New York Mets ace Max Scherzer can opt out of his contract after the 2023 MLB season but isn’t thinking about that aspect of his career early in spring training.
“You have to understand the context of why I negotiated that in, and the context of where we’re at now,” Scherzer told SNY’s Andy Martino about the three-year, $130 million deal that includes an opt-out clause after the upcoming campaign that the 38-year-old agreed to in the fall of 2021.
“I wanted to pursue a championship in that third year. And that’s where an opt-out, to me, made sense. But obviously, (Mets owner Steve Cohen) has demonstrated that we’re going to be trying to win the World Series. We’re gonna do whatever it takes to win. But when I’m stepping in, I’ve gotta have that insurance, because talk is cheap, right? You’ve got to see the proof in the pudding, and we have now seen what Steve has done.”
Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom made it known last March he’d opt out of his Mets contract after the 2022 season. While deGrom eventually signed with the Texas Rangers following the World Series, Cohen responded by spending a fortune to hold onto other key players and acquire big names such as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.
Scherzer admitted he previously wondered what Cohen would do if the Mets had to replace deGrom ahead of this season.
“I got an answer,” Scherzer added in an obvious reference to the signing of Verlander.
Cohen has the Mets carrying baseball’s largest payroll that’s probably going to increase depending on what the club needs regarding pitching depth and at least “one more hitter” between late February and the summer trade deadline. As for Scherzer’s opt-out, he said that “we will cross that bridge at a different time.”
There’s no indication Cohen will abandon a “World Series or bust” mentality if the Mets aren’t the last team standing later this year. That could be enough to convince Scherzer to follow in Verlander’s footsteps and pitch for the Amazins into his 40s.
