Coolly giving up the one-two punch… Will Cohen choose between a salary and a prospect?

The Major League Baseball (MLB) New York Mets, who challenged to win the championship with a huge investment before the season, clearly gave up their will to challenge this season. What’s left is what you get.

Reporter Andy Martino of New York local broadcaster SNY said on the 30th (Korean time), “The Mets and Texas are seriously discussing the Max Scherzer (39) trade. It depends on Scherzer’s approval.” Meanwhile, same media reporter Steve Gelves claimed that Scherzer had agreed to lift the no-trade right.

All that remains is money. Scherzer is MLB’s highest paid player. In 2021, he signed a three-year (two-year, one-year player option) contract with the Mets as a free agent, with an average annual salary of $43.33 million (55.4 billion won). Although he played few matches last year due to a side injury, he posted an 11-5 record with an ERA of 2.29 and 173 strikeouts. On the other hand, this year, his injuries got worse and his pitch fell. He went 9-4 with a 4.01 earned run average in 19 appearances. His performance fell even further, as he hit 23 home runs.

Even Scherzer like that is the biggest word in the trade deadline market this year. The size of the postseason has been expanded since last year, and several teams have improved this season. An example is the Texas Rangers. With a record of 60 wins and 44 losses in the season, he finished first in the American League West Division and is escaping from a dark period for several years. Texas boasts a strong hitting line that ranks first overall, but with a team ERA of 4.22 (16th), it suffers from a headache when it comes to pitching staff. The starting lineup (3.86 ERA) is at least compliant, but Jacob deGrom’s departure from Tommy John surgery is fatal.

Both teams met their needs. The trade is virtually confirmed. What remains is the content. Scherzer’s high average salary will remain until next year. Even if there is a player option, the possibility of declaring free agency is low. If Texas pays for his annual salary, which is worth more than 50 million dollars for the remaining period, the opposite benefit will be reduced by that much. No team would pay Scherzer $43.33 million a year now.

Any other owner would have to pay the annual salary and minimize the cost, but Steve Cohen is the variable. Considered one of the richest MLB owners, last winter Justin Verlander (2 years, $86.66 million) Senga Kodai (5 years, $75 million) Edwin Diaz (5 years, $102 million) Brandon Nemo (8 years, $162 million) dollars) and invested hundreds of millions of dollars. The reset is as sure as the investment. Verlander is also highly likely to be traded this summer.토토사이트

If it’s Cohen’s finances, it’s not too much trouble to treat Scherzer’s annual salary as ‘dead money’. After already becoming the owner, Cohen has taken a strategy of gathering promising players instead of bearing high financial burdens. When he traded Eduardo Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels last month, he received more prospects instead of paying his annual salary. The burden will be greater, but if Scherzer’s annual salary is massively supported, the prospect’s price will increase. Even if Cohen’s immediate burden increases, the Mets’ future could be brighter.