Why a Cardinals trade for Max Scherzer makes sense for both sides this summer
Is it likely? Probably not. Is it sexy and possible without mortgaging the farm or bank? Yes indeed.
Righting a wrong provides a good sense of closure, especially in the world of sports. Going back into your past to reverse a bad decision is better than meditation and a bowl of ice cream. A comfort in making things right at last.
The St. Louis Cardinals did that by bringing back Albert Pujols for the 2022 season to reach 700 home runs. They signed Lance Lynn for this season after he was gone for a while, and that move has *mostly* paid off. Bringing back Max Scherzer this summer could be the perfect remedy for a team that needs some rotation muscle as they make a comeback from early season depravity.
If the Cardinals are interested in making a playoff push-a move that would break franchise norms and be their biggest deadline deal since Matt Holliday put on Cardinal Red-then Scherzer is the trigger you pull. With no offense to Andre Pallante, who got roughed up today by Kansas City but has mostly pitched well, he’s not a big game pitcher like Scherzer. You either use six arms to keep them fresh, or make Pallante a long arm.
It’s not a fantasy. Scherzer, who turns 40 on July 27, has returned from the land of the injury abyss for the Texas Rangers. They are a paltry 44-48 on the season, and would like to unload a big salary. Due to the New York Mets already paying $20.8 million (the full 2024 income is a ridiculous $43 million) of Scherzer’s salary this year, a trading team would only be responsible for roughly $10-12 million for a juicy rental. The Cardinals are right around $176 million, so that would get them close to $190 million.
Remember when President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said the team intended to raise the payroll significantly last season to a possible $200 million? Now is the time to pull that trigger. Bill DeWitt Jr. can pull this off if he wants to, and if Max is willing of course. Don’t let any of their rhetoric play tricks on your brain? Empty seats or not, St. Louis still ranks 6th in average attendance, and 8th in overall attendance ($1.5 million so far) despite playing the least amount of games at home than any team in the top ten.
Does Max want to come home to seal off his career potentially? Tell me why not. Sure, the New York Yankees need a pitcher and could outspend anybody. The pinstripes would be a nice touch to finish a career, but it could go very wrong. Ask Giancarlo Stanton. Randy Johnson. Ask Lynn. It can be a nightmare, smearing Scherzer’s career in dog shit. A St. Louis deal makes more sense than the Big Apple spitting you out like a chewy piece of steak after a couple starts.
I think Scherzer would like to come home. He’s wanted to wear the birds on the bat since he was a kid growing up in Chesterfield. It ran through his mind while pitching for the Missouri Tigers. I bet it owns plenty of real estate in his mind on an annual occasion. There’s a good chance Mozeliak didn’t even sniff Scherzer’s scent back in 2015 when the Cardinals passed. Again, righting a wrong fits both sides.
It would be such a pain in the ass (massive wink-wink) for Scherzer to pitch every home game in front of his parents, Jan and Brad, and grab some toasted ravioli from Anthonino’s on the Hill during his ride home. He could fire six shutout innings at Busch, and then wink at the Arch as he flew up I-64. Wouldn’t that be an absolute delight?
DeWitt Jr. would reap the rewards in merchandise and ticket sales. A Scherzer addition adds a new set of tires to the rotation, and could aid the pen once he gets up to 100%. Yes, he’s had his injury issues in the past few seasons, but his arm still works. He posted a 2.46 ERA just two seasons ago, and compiled a 3.77 ERA between the Mets and Rangers last year. In three starts this season, he’s built up inning strength each time (5.0, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 IP).
Scherzer already owns two World Series rings, so there isn’t a diehard need to chase another on easy street, aka the Bronx. Coming home to pitch for his hometown team to give them a much better chance to win their 12th sounds so much sexier. Imagine being the final piece to a team’s puzzle instead of the second best pitcher behind Gerrit Cole on the team.
Speaking of tandems, post a Sonny Gray-Scherzer 1-2 in the postseason, and other teams will have their hands full, whether or not Paul Goldschmidt and/or Nolan Arenado find their way. You’re a daisy if you do acquire a win off one of them. He gives you the second top of the rotation arm that you forgot to acquire in the offseason, leaning on the flimsy hopes of Steven Matz instead. Ouch. Once again, this rights a wrong, possibly more than just one.
Like Randy Karraker often says on 101.1 ESPN’s Opening Drive, DeWitt Jr. loves having stars on his team. The reason he probably won’t trade Goldschmidt or Arenado is the same reason why he’d acquire Scherzer. What if you had all three? If that’s not telling your loyal fanbase that the Cardinals are really going for it, I don’t know what is. If the owner wants to endear himself back to fans, acquire Scherzer.
The team needs pitching help, period. Get Max, a bullpen arm, and possibly a bench bat to supply extra pop in the stretch run. The pitches and innings start to pile up on the arms who started all the way back in April. Scherzer just got started in late June. He’s fresh, hungry, and organically angry most of the time… at least on the mound.
That’s another thing. Scherzer is cut from the same cloth as Chris Carpenter and Bob Gibson. He’s Mad Max on pitch day, losing his temper and unleashing those different colored eyes on opposing hitters looking for a dying quail or groundball with eyes. He’s mad if you get a hit, pissed if you take him deep, and feels like body-slamming the manager for coming to get him too soon.
He’ll be a personality that St. Louis will devour. The honesty of Scherzer’s bluntness with the media will be fun to watch. It’s like getting John Lackey in 2015, but even better. Do I need to go into detail on the stats? Three Cy Young awards. Eight All Star Game selections. 3,384 career strikeouts.
It’s simple. If you’re going to add a starter, add someone who puts you over the top. Add an October horse. Unlike all of the current Cardinals starters, he’s pitched in big postseason moments and thrived. He’ll make other teams think twice about their gameplan. It’s a pure cut-the-shit acquisition, so what’s the wait?
Every deal carries risk, some more and others less. Scherzer shouldn’t cost you a ton of players, especially if you eat most of his money. He will make you money, especially in his hometown. Will it happen? Probably not, but it’s not outlandish or back-breaking for it to become a reality. It could be Mozeliak’s final lightning rod move before he steps away in 2025.
Right a wrong, Mo. Cut him the check, Bill. It’s almost too easy.