The 2013 AL Cy Young winning pitcher, Max Scherzer is headed for the open market. The Detroit Tigers spent the better part of Sunday hammering out deals with no end, and finally ended negotiations once a deadline had been reached. The deadline was self-imposed, and reportedly per GM Dave Dombrowski, would had made Scherzer one of the wealthiest pitchers in baseball.
No amount or time of the contract was disclosed, but Dombrowski repeatedly stated the offer was “very substantial.” The two parties had originally reached a one year contract worthy of $15.525 million this past January to avoid arbitration. It appears instead of negotiating into the spring, the ballclub went for broke and pitched the top amount.
Scherzer walked away from the deal and the Tigers front house claims there will be “no further in-season negotiation,” as the team will be moving forward to focus on the upcoming season. Reportedly, Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras tells a different story. The agent advises it was the Tigers that rejected an offer from Scherzer. Boras told ESPN talks are tabled until the season ends.
Media sources reported the contract may have been worth about $24 million annually, a figure that falls shy of Justin Verlander’s contract of $25.7 million annually. If after the season, the two parties cannot come to an agreement, Scherzer will become a free agent that may capture the eye of other clubhouses.
Scherzer had a strong season this past year, going 21-3 with an ERA of 2.90. Verlander was just signed to a $180 million, seven year deal with the Tigers before the start of the last season. The Tigers wanted to woo the star player from becoming a free agent. With their recent Cy Young pitcher become antsy, it is not yet confirmed what dollar amount Scherzer wanted and if there will be a counter. For now, Scherzer has declined the extension, and remains on schedule to become a free agent after the season.