Mets, Rangers announce Max Scherzer trade as New York lands Luisangel Acuña from Texas; Billy Eppler explains
The Mets and Rangers announced Sunday their trade of RHP Max Scherzer and cash considerations for INF prospect Luisangel Acuña, confirming Saturday's report by SNY's Andy Martino.
"Given the place we're in and the odds we're facing, it was a strategic decision and we kind of took this opportunity to kind of serve another goal of the organization, which is to enhance the farm system," GM Billy Eppler told reporters before Sunday's 1:40 p.m. game against the Washington Nationals. "But I do want to be clear that it's not a rebuild, it's not a fire sale, it's not a liquidation. This is just a repurposing of (owner Steve Cohen's) investment in the club and kind of shifting that investment from the team into the organization."
Acuña, whom MLB Pipeline ranked as the Rangers' No. 3 overall prospect, will be optioned to Double-A Binghamton. The 21-year-old Acuña is the No. 44 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
"Right now, he's going to come in and play shortstop right away," Eppler said. "But there'll probably be some positional versatility. He's already played a little second (base) and center field. And so, he'll probably get an opportunity to do that. But I'd like to talk to him about that first."
In 84 games this season for the Rangers' Double-A Frisco, Acuña slashed .315/.377/.453 with seven home runs and 51 RBI. He rounded out his production with 68 runs scored, 42 stolen bases, 25 doubles and two triples.
"Ultra athleticism," Eppler said. "Watching some of the video on him and seeing some of our scouting reports and the plays that he kind of makes in the middle of the diamond -- the arm strength, the hit ability. He's working on lifting the ball a little bit more of just being able to get the ball airborne a touch more. Strong plate discipline, strong contact, strong skills -- just really excited to get a prospect of this caliber into our system.
"I kind of follow a little bit online and see where people want to slot him already and all this kind of stuff, but that's the fun of this and I'll let you guys all do that."
Acuña is among six Minor League Baseball players this season with at least 40 steals and an OPS of .800 or more.
Through 337 games in the minors with the Rangers, the right-handed Acuña slashed .294/.374/.431 with 32 home runs and 201 RBI.
The Rangers originally signed him July 2, 2018.
Scherzer, 39, went 20-9 with a 3.02 ERA in 42 regular-season starts for the Mets from 2022-23. He was 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA in 23 starts on the 2022 season, but his numbers dipped (9-4, 4.01 ERA) over 19 outings through 2023.
"There was some conversations going on with a couple different clubs," Eppler said. "And I was talking to Max a little bit about it, but not in great detail. I wanted them to go out (and play). And when I talked to him before, I just said, 'Just go make a start. Make your start. Be you. I can't tell you what's going on, but this could be on the horizon and we'll have a conversation the day after.'
"And so, we plugged in with each other (Saturday) probably midday and spent a lot of time together (Saturday)."
