Perhaps the top pitcher on this winter’s MLB free agent market has finally chosen his destination, as Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals have agreed on a seven year contract. CBS’ Jon Heyman was the first to report the deal:
Max scherzer has an agreement on a 7-year deal with nats. Dollars are not known.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 19, 2015According to Fox Sports, the 30-year-old righthander will receive over $180 million, an average annual value exceeding $25 million. He joins a rotation already headed by Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, although the same Fox report also suggests that the Nationals will likely look to move one of those pitchers before the season begins.
Scherzer has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the American League in recent years, making two All-Star teams, leading the AL in victories in both 2013 and 2014, and winning the 2013 Cy Young Award. He’s averaged over 16 wins in each of the last five seasons, posting a 3.52 ERA and averaging better than 200 strikeouts per season.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com
[via Fox Sports]
