Where will Max Scherzer end up? Will he get the large contract everyone is expecting him to get? Will he stay on the West Coast?
There’s a ton of speculation on where the veteran right-hander will end up in 2022. With starting pitching being a hot commodity, Scherzer is at the top of the heap.
As we’ve been doing for free agents lately, we’ll discuss three teams who could benefit from signing Scherzer and how he would help their chances at a championship.
San Francisco Giants
In MLB.com’s latest article about which free agent would be the perfect fit for each team, Scherzer came up as the one San Francisco should go for.
The Giants were reportedly in on Mad Max at the trade deadline, but he ultimately went to the Dodgers. Logan Webb is the only starting pitcher from 2021 that is under contract for next year. And while he was great, they need more in order to remain a 100-win caliber club.
Scherzer would be perfect for them. It’d be a nice way to put a dagger in the Dodgers’ hearts, but would also give them someone who’s proven and can lead a team in the postseason. Kevin Gausman was great, but this was really the first year he’s ever shown ace potential.
Scherzer seems to want to stay on the West Coast, but that isn’t limited to Southern California. This could help the Giants retain their position atop the NL West and maybe get past the Dodgers in the postseason.
San Diego Padres
They almost got him at the deadline. If they were to actually do it this time, just imagine him next to Yu Darvish, Mike Clevenger, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove.
The Padres epic collapse in the second half was mainly due to their rash of pitching injuries. Scherzer could help them rebound from all that. And who’s to say the Giants are the only team who can break the Dodgers hearts with a move like this?
St. Louis Cardinals
He grew up in St. Louis and was initially drafted by the Cardinals before committing to the University of Missouri. Bringing him home would make his journey come full circle.
Slot him next to Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty and you’ve got a lethal top three in your rotation. And Max wouldn’t be the first hometown kid to make a difference for the team he grew up cheering for.
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