AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Multiple teams are pursuing the three-time Cy Young winner, who is a free agent.
Jon Heyman of the MLB Network says that the current collective bargaining agreement is expected to expire at midnight. The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels are in the mix.
The Mets are interested in acquiring Max Scherzer, but they could turn their attention to Kevin Gausman, because the Washington Nationals traded him to the Dodgers in July.
There is an expectation that he will sign a short-term contract with a high average annual salary, since he is 37 years old.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported last month that the Dodgers are close to re-signing pitcher Max Scherzer.
Mark Feinsand noted that the right-handed pitcher preferred the West Coast to waive his no-trade clause when the Nationals were shopping him prior to the trade deadline.
The Dodgers made a deal with Washington to get Max and Trea Turner. The other teams mentioned by Heyman have the potential to be heavy-hitters, but his familiarity with the organization could give them a leg up.
The Dodgers lost to the Giants in the NL West last season. They're still waiting to see what happens with Kris Bryant, and they've already lost one.
The Angels are desperate to make the playoffs while they still have two of the best players in the game in Ohtani and Trout. It's not clear how much of an impact Noah Syndergaard will have on the rotation. He had Tommy John surgery in March of 2020 and only threw two pitches in the last two months of the season.
Steve Cohen is willing to spend a lot if he thinks it will help his team. They've already been aggressive, agreeing to deals with Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Cahna.
The Mets would get a great one-two punch in the form of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.
One of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball is still young. He finished third in the NL Cy Young voting this season after posting a 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and striking out 236 hitters in 179.1 starts between the Nationals and Dodgers.
