The Washington Nationals have flirted with trading away superstar pitcher Max Scherzer for quite some time. Well, now it has finally happened, as the best pitcher on the market has been dealt prior to the MLB trade deadline passing by.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Nationals are sending Scherzer AND Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a stunning blockbuster trade after earlier reports had him going to the San Diego Padres.
The departure of Scherzer made too much sense for the Nationals. While they could technically still make a run in the National League East, Scherzer's contract expires at the end of the season. Thus, it is always better to get something than to let players such as Scherzer walk for nothing.
By far the best arm on the market during the MLB trade deadline, Max Scherzer has tossed 105 innings and has a 7-4 record with a 2.83 ERA. He started the All-Star Game for the National League and repeatedly said he preferred to go to one of the West Coast teams in the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, or San Diego Padres.
Well, he's getting his wish by joining the Dodgers, and now the Padres will have to pivot to somebody else in a shocking turn of events on a wild Thursday evening.
Perhaps the biggest prize of the MLB trade deadline, he has now found a new home in Los Angeles, and their rotation just got a whole lot better with the addition of Mad Max.