ABOUT 100 HOURS before Major League Baseball's trade deadline, the New York Mets and Texas Rangers were barreling toward an agreement on a deal that would shake the baseball world. The Mets were prepared to dismantle the most expensive team in the game's history. New York's focus was now on 2025 and beyond -- and that target date was past the expiration of starting pitcher Max Scherzer's contract.
The Rangers had eyed a moment like this since June, when it was clear their red-hot start and place atop the American League West division was no small-sample mirage.