The New York Mets and free-agent ace Max Scherzer agreed to a three-year, $130-million contract, a source told Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The pact comes with an opt-out clause after the second season, Passan adds. Scherzer, 37, also has a full no-trade clause, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
The $43.3-million average annual value of Scherzer's contract will break the record set by right-hander Gerrit Cole, whose New York Yankees deal has a $36-million AAV, notes Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Estimated current opening day payrolls, per @baseballpro:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
Seattle Mariners: $57 million
Cleveland Guardians: $46.7 million
Max Scherzer: $43.3 million
Pittsburgh Pirates: $40.2 million
Baltimore Orioles: $37 million
Scherzer will make over $58 million per year over the next three seasons since the Washington Nationals still owe him $15 million annually through 2028 in deferred money.
The three-time Cy Young winner's reported deal would bring the Mets' projected payroll for 2022 to around $265 million, according to Sherman. The Los Angeles Dodgers had the largest Opening Day payroll at $237 million last season.
New York reportedly spent another $124.5 million on free agents Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, and Mark Canha last week.
The Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants were also reportedly chasing Scherzer.
The Angels were closer to signing Scherzer than the Dodgers, a source told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. However, neither club was reportedly close to matching what the Mets offered.
The eight-time All-Star authored a 2.46 ERA with 236 strikeouts over 179 1/3 innings split between the Dodgers and Nationals last season.
