Rangers Add, Mets Keep Dumping. First Blockbuster During Trade Season

The New York Mets continue with their fire sale, trading first-ballot hall-of-famer Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers. 

After a truly disappointing season, the Mets started their trade season by dumping journeyman David Robertson. 

This move seemed to rub the 39-year-old legend the wrong way. 

Trade speculation surrounding the newly signed Justin Verlander came to a tipping point after that move. Scherzer came out with quotes criticizing the Mets’ front office. Reports came out just hours later. 

The Texas Rangers had vultured Mets ace Jacob DeGrom during the 2022 offseason, but his chronic elbow injuries forced reconstructive Tommy John surgery. 

The Rangers sent back Luisangel Acuña, the brother of NL MVP favorite Ronald Acuña Jr. Scherzer must opt-in to his player option for the 2023 offseason, meaning he will be a Texas Ranger for the 2024 season. As a part of the deal, the Rangers must pay $22.5 million of his contract while the Mets cover the rest of the $35 million that he is owed. 

Acuña is ranked 44 on MLB Pipelines’ top 100 prospects. This is the second top-100 prospect the Mets have brought in during this past week. 

During the 2022 offseason, the Mets went out and bought a lot of aging, but solid and known players. During this past week, they dumped two aging pitchers in the midst of a regression year and flipped them for top prospects. The pivot from the Mets front office is very impressive and should make waves in the 2024 season.