It’s not often that a free-agent signing sends such intense energy coursing through a fan base. On Wednesday, the New York Mets’ formal introduction of right-hander Max Scherzer did just that and then some.
Speaking alongside his agent Scott Boras on a Zoom call with Mets owner Steve Cohen, team president Sandy Alderson, general manager Billy Eppler, and a 110-plus-member contingent of New York and national media, Scherzer appeared ready and raring to go with regards to suiting up in the Big Apple, as did team officials.
“It’s a great day for the New York Mets. It’s even a better day for our fans,” Steve Cohen said in a prepared statement. “[Scherzer] is one of the greatest pitchers of his and any generation […] He is a Hall of Famer that knows how to win and that’s a great quality to add to the clubhouse, too. Now we get to pair Max with one of the other great generational pitchers, Jacob deGrom.”
Naturally, a player of Scherzer’s caliber adds the necessary talent essential to competing for a World Series championship. But there was more to this courtship than that.
An entirely disappointing season on and off the field in 2021 combined with reports of a divided clubhouse complete with actual physical altercations was always going to lead to changing the vibes in and around this group this winter. And there aren’t many guys who can step in a clubhouse and demand that level of respect like Scherzer can.
According to the hardest-working man in baseball these days, Mets GM Billy Eppler, that angle wasn’t lost on the Mets. It actually was a driving force behind their interest.
“We set out [this offseason] to make a real impact on our club, and Max was at the top of our list,” Eppler added. “Max’s mindset and his expectations are not static. It’s not in his nature. And I think that surrounding yourself with people like that, with high achievers, creates standards. And it’s infectious.”
For Scherzer, the decision to take his talents to Flushing was rooted in a variety of factors, his record-setting $43.3 million average annual salary aside.
“When I took the Zoom call with [Cohen and Eppler], got to know those two and Steve said, ‘It’s whatever it takes to win here,’” he said. “He looks at this as he wants to win a championship and he’s gonna do whatever it takes to win. You don’t hear that from owners too often these days. When you finally hear an owner can do what it takes to win, obviously that piqued my interest.”
“When you look at the team, the most obvious thing is, yeah, I’m pitching with Jake,” Scherzer added with a smile. “And then going against those guys, they’ve got a pretty good lineup, as well.”
Scherzer added Port St. Lucie’s close proximity to his Jupiter, Florida home and the travel schedule of the NL East as contributing factors, and noted the additions the Mets’ have made already this winter (specifically Eduardo Escobar, who apparently came with a glowing recommendation via former teammate Brian Dozier) as a plus, as well.
Of course, the Mets committing $130 million over three seasons to a 37-year-old pitcher is a risk, but Scherzer doesn’t seem all too concerned with the expectations he’s assuming with that level of compensation.
“I really try to focus on being the best athlete as possible,” he said. “I’ve trained my body to be not just a pitcher but try to be an athlete in everything that you do.”
“For me, being explosive, being able to jump, being able to lift heavy weights, being able to do everything that you need to do, run, sprint, I gotta be able to do it all if I want to be the best version of myself. I feel like that’s been my formula for how to be durable and be having success at the same time.”
Coming off a career-best 2.46 ERA in 2021, it’s safe to assume Max’s methods are working just fine. Banner day, friends. LFGM.
Check out the entire presser on YouTube here.
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