Max Scherzer trade from Mets could work for these NL teams

MLB trade rumors and predictions are intertwined with Max Scherzer’s name on a consistent basis with the trade deadline approaching on Aug.1.

Scherzer, who signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the New York Mets prior to the 2022 season, is not guaranteed to be traded. New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman reported the idea of trading Scherzer or pitcher Justin Verlander is pure speculation at this point.

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ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the Mets will be “measured sellers” and discuss trades about its veteran players on short-term deals. He mentioned the Mets are open to speaking to teams about Scherzer and Verlander, but both players have full no-trade clauses.

Although Scherzer might return to the Mets, that does not stop the ongoing trade predictions.

ESPN believes the 38-year-old pitcher is a good fit for two National League contenders: the Arizona Diamondbacksand the Cincinnati Reds. These predictions were not made on rumors — the ESPN writers based their choices on good baseball fits.

ESPN staff writer Bradford Dolittle had this to say about Scherzer’s fit with the Diamondbacks: “I could see a Scherzer deal being the 2023 version of Randy Johnson to the Astros (1998) or CC Sabathia to the Brewers (2008). Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have prospect depth from which to deal and more of a need for a pitching upgrade than any other contender, with the possible exception of the Orioles rotation.”

Similar to the Diamondbacks, the Reds are an emerging NL contender. Sitting at 56-47, the Reds trail the Milwaukee Brewers by a 1/2 game in the NL Central.

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In a competitive NL, adding another pitcher could help the Reds cement a playoff spot for the first time since 2020.

“It would be fun to see Scherzer playing alongside Elly De La Cruz and Joey Votto and again this piece is titled trades we want to see, so I want to see the Reds go for it and make a big splash,” ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield said.

For one of these trades to happen, the Mets would have to be willing to deal Scherzer, whose 4.20 ERA is the highest since 2011. There are six days remaining until the trade deadline to make that decision, but the Mets sit in fourth place in the NL East with a 47-53 record.