Mets trade Max Scherzer to Rangers in exchange for prospect Luisangel Acuna
Mad Max is on his way to Texas, and the Mets are in full-scale sell mode.
A day after Max Scherzer made public his frustration with the Mets’ trade of David Robertson to the Marlins, the right-hander was traded to the Rangers, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported.
“Honestly, shocked,’’ Pete Alonso said of his reaction to the trade following the Mets’ 11-6 loss to the Nationals.
For the deal to go through, Scherzer had to waive his no-trade clause, which he did.
Scherzer also had an opt-out after this season, but instead opted into the final year of the deal, which will pay him $43.3 million.
Of the roughly $58 million Scherzer is owed, the Mets will pay around $36 million, while Texas will kick in $22.5 million.
The extra money Mets owner Steve Cohen agreed to pay allowed the Mets to land one of the Rangers’ top prospects, Double-A infielder Luisangel Acuña, brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña.
The trade came just two days after Robertson was shipped to Miami in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.
So, who’s next?
With the trade deadline approaching this coming Tuesday, the Mets likely aren’t done dealing.
There has been interest from clubs in Justin Verlander, who is scheduled to start against Washington on Sunday at Citi Field.
Outfielder Tommy Pham and Mark Canha, both on one-year deals, are viable trade chips, as is left-handed reliever Brooks Raley, although he has an option for 2024.
Everything to know about the Mets' historic sell-off
After a disappointing season, the Mets are selling off their historically expensive roster.
The Amazins dealt out some big name players before the MLB trade deadline — including now-former co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Below are the players the Mets have shipped out:
Tommy Pham
The Mets traded the outfielder minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona is sending back 17-year shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez, who has a .751 OPS rookie ball this season.
Justin Verlander
The Mets traded out Verlander, a sure-fire Hall of Fame pitcher, back to his former team, the Houston Astros.
The Amazins reportedly will receive top Astros prospect Drew Gilbert, a Double-A outfielder, and 20-year-old outfielder Ryan Clifford, who owns a .919 OPS through 83 games in Low- and High-A this year.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner that was a co-ace with Verlander, was sold off to the Texas Rangers.
The Mets landed one of the Rangers’ top prospects, Double-A infielder Luisangel Acuña, brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña.
Mark Canha
The veteran outfielder was dealt to the Brewers for Justin Jarvis, a promising 23-year-old pitcher that was ranked No. 12 in the Brewers’ farm system.
David Robertson
The Mets traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins, a move that started off the club’s deadline dismantle.
In exchange for Robertson, who is having another terrific season, the Mets received a pair of minor leaguers, infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez, from Miami.
Alonso and his teammates were still digesting the Scherzer trade, which still wasn’t official late Saturday night.
“Obviously, having a guy who’s gonna be a Hall-of-Famer get traded away, stinks,’’ Alonso said.
The deal made Alonso wonder about who else might go.
“If a guy with a no-trade clause can get traded, anyone can,’’ he said.
The first baseman said he “briefly” wondered if he might also be dealt, but said he was “comfortable” in New York and wanted to remain.
Francisco Lindor said he talked with general manager Billy Eppler on Saturday about the future. Lindor expects more trades.
“From what I’ve seen, yeah, I think more guys are gonna go,’’ Lindor said.
Scherzer, who said on Friday he wanted to talk to the Mets’ “brass,” wasn’t in the clubhouse prior to the game Saturday night, but manager Buck Showalter said he was confident the veteran right-hander still wanted to remain with the team.
“Max has made it very clear, when he wakes up in the morning, he wants it to be here,’’ Showalter said before both the game and trade. “It’s the way he’s always felt. He likes it here. He’s taken it on, and all the responsibilities come along with it.”
That ended Saturday, hours after Scherzer made it clear he wanted answers from Mets ownership and the front office about the direction in which the team was going after the trade of their best relief pitcher to NL East-rival Miami.
There was plenty of other uncertainty around the roster, as well.
According to Showalter, Scherzer had “earned the right” to speak his mind, as he did Friday.
Scherzer, as well as Verlander, who was signed this past offseason- were expected to be atop a strong rotation this year.
Instead, Verlander missed the first month of the season with a strain near his shoulder blade and then got off to an inconsistent start when he got healthy.
He has been excellent over his previous six starts, but Scherzer, who turned 39 this past week, has been far more inconsistent.
He acknowledged Friday the subpar performance of the team, including himself, had put the front office in a position to have to make some difficult decisions after the Mets won 101 games and reached the playoffs a year ago.
But Scherzer wasn’t happy about it.
“I probably have to have a conversation with our front office,’’ Scherzer said after the Mets’ second straight win, on Friday. “You’re trading our closer away. A bunch of people are gonna have a conversation with the front office.”
Verlander is also owed $43.3 million next season, and has a vesting option worth $35 million for 2025.
Despite the investment in the co-aces, the Mets haven’t sniffed .500 in the second half of the season. Trading Robertson on Thursday indicated that the Mets would sell, although it was unclear how severe it would be.
Trading Scherzer changed that.