When Max Scherzer signed his historic three-year, $130 million deal to come to the Mets—a deal that shocked everyone and seemingly altered the baseball landscape overnight—he inserted himself at the top of the rotation alongside homegrown ace and hometown favorite Jacob deGrom. Coming into the 2023 season, he once again finds himself as a co-ace for the staff, but this time he will share the spotlight with newcomer Justin Verlander, whose record contract signed over the offseason matched Scherzer’s AAV for the highest ever by a starting pitcher.
Scherzer is no longer the shiny new toy at Buck Showalter’s disposal.