UNDATED (AP) — The New York Mets have made a very big move toward rebuilding their starting rotation.
A person familiar with the negotiations who tells The Associated Press that Max Scherzer has agreed to a three-year, $130 million contract with the Mets, subject to a successful physical. The $43.33 million average salary is 20% higher than the previous major league record of $36 million Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is averaging.
Scherzer was 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA for the Nationals and Dodgers last season. The 37-year-old right-hander struck out 236 and walked 36 over 179 1/3 innings in the final season of a $210 million, seven-year contract.
In other MLB news:
— A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that the Rangers have reached agreement on a 10-year, $325 million deal with free-agent shortstop Corey Seager, pending a physical. The 27-year-old Seager was the World Series MVP in 2020 and a two-time All-Star in his seven seasons with the Dodgers. He hit .306 with 16 homers and 57 RBIs in 95 games this year, missing 2 1/2 months with a broken finger.
— A person with knowledge of the deal says the Mariners are finalizing a contract with AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, pending a physical. Ray is coming off the best season of his career with the Blue Jays, going 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA and 248 strikeouts.
— Right-hander Alex Cobb is close to finalizing an agreement with the Giants, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. Cobb went 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA over 18 starts and 93 1/3 innings for the Angels this year, striking out 98 batters and walking 33.
— The Braves bolstered their World Series-winning bullpen Monday by signing right-hander Kirby Yates to a two-year, $8.25 million deal. Yates led the majors with 41 saves for the Padres in 2019 but didn’t pitch this past season for the Toronto Blue Jays following his second Tommy John surgery.
— A person with direct knowledge of the trade tells The Associated Press the Pirates have traded catcher Jacob Stallings to the Marlins for pitcher Zach Thompson and prospects Kyle Nicolas and Connor Scott. Stallings earned his first Gold Glove for his handling of an inexperienced pitching staff that ranked among the worst in the major leagues last season.
— Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna has received a retroactive 20-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Ozuna was arrested May 29 on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police officers said they witnessed him attacking his wife. The suspension is retroactive to Sept. 10 and covers the final 24 days of the regular season.
