Max Scherzer wants a conversation with Mets brass after David Robertson trade
Thursday’s David Robertson trade will have ripple effects on this Mets team the rest of the 2023 season and perhaps beyond, including what happens with Max Scherzer.
The future Hall of Famer didn’t allow the upcoming trade deadline to distract him from Friday’s start, though. Scherzer was in classic form, giving up just one run over seven innings.
But the trade of Robertson signaled a change in direction for the franchise this season and Scherzer feels the loss.
“Disappointed, obviously,” Scherzer said of the Robertson trade, after the game. “We put ourselves in this position. We haven't played well as a team. I've had a hand in that for why we're in the position that we're at. Can't get mad at anybody but yourself, but it stinks.”
In 19 starts this season, Scherzer is 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He’s been inconsistent, and it’s a part of why the Mets -- who won 101 games a year ago -- sit at just 49-54 and 6.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot after Friday’s win.
The Mets are still mathematically in the playoff hunt, although it would be difficult, but trading their best reliever days before the deadline sent a message that clearly disappointed Scherzer.
“Probably got to have a conversation with the front office. You traded our closer away. I’m sure a bunch of people are going to have to have conversations with the front office,” he said, before adding that he has not had those conversations yet.
When asked if he was surprised by the Robertson move, Scherzer paused for a moment before answering.
“I mean, look where we're at in the standings. Our record is our record,” he said. “Obviously the front office has decisions to make. [Mets owner Steve Cohen] has decisions to make. And we have to understand where the direction of the organization is going to be.”
Scherzer’s name has popped up in trade speculation over the last few weeks, but the righty has a no-trade clause and an option for next season. That puts him in a different situation than when he was traded from the Nationals, along with Trea Turner, to the Dodgers at the 2021 deadline, and Scherzer made sure everyone knows it.
“This isn’t like the trade for me out of Washington,” he explained. “I was about to be a free agent. Our season was going south … I wanted to get traded to a playoff contender. That was a calculus for me with the Nationals. This time around, I’m not going to be a free agent. I have another year here. We did great things last year, won 100 ballgames last year. Unfortunately this year it’s not. With Steve and the rest of this organization, you see a path forward -- a path to contend next year. That’s where the calculus is different.”
When asked if the trade of Robertson changes his thinking, Scherzer said he needs to have a conversation with the Mets brass about everything before he can make a decision on his future with the team.
“You have to talk to the brass. You have to understand what they see and what they are going to do. That’s the best I can tell you,” he said. “I told you I wasn’t going to comment on this until Steve was going to sell. We traded Robertson, now I need to have a conversation. Haven’t had that conversation yet, but I will.”
The trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
