3 pitchers Yankees should absolutely overpay for in a trade
2. Max Scherzer
The Yankees should call up the Nationals and go for it all in 2021.
I’m sick of pitching this, because it couldn’t be more obvious. The Washington Nationals have simply lost too many players to make another World Series run, so there’s little need for them to have all of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin under contract. Truth be told, they’re stuck with Stras and Corbin until further notice.
But Scherzer? The 36-year-old is under contract for one more year at $34 million and the price could be lowered for his services after a lackluster 2020 (3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP). This is a go-for-it-all in 2021 move, and what’s not to like about it? It’s a short-term financial commitment and you’re getting a bonafide second ace. Unless there’s an injury, there will be no problem with putting together the postseason rotation.
Scherz is pretty damn good in the postseason, too. Across 22 career games (18 starts), the three-time Cy Young winner is 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 112 innings. We’re salivating. The Yankees can cry about money all they want, but this move (if possible) is arguably their best chance to take home a World Series during this current window.
If they’re worried about spending in the short term, then what’s their long-term outlook with everybody approaching arbitration or free agency? Nothing is going to be cheap! Just live with giving people paper in order to succeed.