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What are the chances the Astros trade for Max Scherzer?

By Andrew Gleinser

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in game two of a double header at Nationals Park on June 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in game two of a double header at Nationals Park on June 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 20: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 20, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 20: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 20, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The Numbers

Not only has Scherzer been excellent, he’s also been consistently excellent. He’s won three Cy Young Awards and has finished in the Top 5 of the Cy Young voting in six consecutive seasons. He’s led his league in strikeouts and WHIP in three straight seasons and managed to crack the 300-strikeout mark in 2018.

Scherzer has also been incredibly durable, having made at least 30 starts in every season since 2009. He’s got six straight seasons of 200-plus innings, and his highest ERA in that span was the 3.15 mark he posted in 2014.

Scherzer will turn 35 shortly before the trade deadline, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He leads the majors in strikeouts this season and has a 2.52 ERA in 17 starts. Amazingly, he also leads the NL in rate of allowing home runs, with just 0.6 allowed per nine innings. This would be a career-best mark for him.

He is also posting his lowest walk rate since 2015. Additionally, metrics like FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and ERA+ rate his performance so far this season as the best of his career. So if the Astros were to acquire him, they wouldn’t be getting an over-the-hill guy whose best years are behind him. His best years are right now.

Scherzer is also well-known throughout the game as an incredibly intense competitor. The guy is simply a beast and would be a welcome addition to any team.

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