The Milwaukee Brewers’ big trade for first baseman Carlos Santana was overshadowed in a big way on Saturday. The New York Mets and Texas Rangers agreed to a trade that sends three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to Texas in exchange for 21-year old shortstop Luisangel Acuna, the brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna.
The deal, though, almost did not happen. Scherzer had a no-trade clause and had to be convinced to waive it in order for the deal to go through. Former Milwaukee Brewers catcher Erik Kratz jokingly took credit for Scherzer’s decision.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Catcher Erik Kratz Takes Credit for the Max Scherzer Trade
RICK WOOD/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
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One of the reasons Scherzer did not immediately waive his no-trade clause is because he had an option worth $43.3 million for 2024, and he wanted to keep it. However, Mark Feinsand reported that they resolved the issue, got the deal done, and Scherzer immediately picked up the option.
Former Brewers catcher Erik Kratz, who has never played with Scherzer, nor for the Rangers or Mets, posted the following on Twitter:
You are welcome @Rangers I advised Max to accept
— Erik Kratz (@ErikKratz31) July 29, 2023
The Rangers also should be thanking their negotiation team. Giving up Acuna is a steep price, but in return the Mets are also paying more than half of the money Scherzer is owed this year and next season.
So the Mets will pay ~$35 million of Scherzer’s salary through the end of 2024, while the Rangers will pay $22.5 million. That was the cost to acquire Luisangel Acuña in the deal.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 30, 2023
After entering the 2023 season with the highest payroll in baseball, the Mets are now conducting a firesale of their roster. While Kratz’s Tweet may or may not be a joke, the real joke has been the Mets’ 2023 season so far. No wonder they have been rumored to be interested in hiring David Stearns when his contract with the Brewers is up.
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