What Would It Take for the Yankees to Acquire Max Scherzer?

Despite making the postseason three out of the last four seasons, the Yankees have failed to reach their ultimate goal — the World Series. The reason that is, arguably, has been their lack of elite starting pitching to push them over the edge or to get them to the next step, for that matter. Fortunately, the best pitcher in baseball might be available this summer in Max Scherzer, and it’s indisputable that the Yankees should pounce on him if that ends up being the case.

It’s no secret that Max Scherzer has been the best starting pitcher in baseball over the last four or five seasons.  Since signing with the Washington Nationals prior to the 2015 season, he’s averaged an ERA of 2.76 and a K/9 of 11.6. That resume also includes two Cy Young Awards, not to mention the one he won with the Detroit Tigers back in 2013.

Now, heading into the 2019 campaign, the notion that the 34-year-old would be in trade talks would sound borderline absurd. However, the Nationals continue to spiral down to the bottom depths of the NL East — let alone the entire National League. They currently sit at 22-31 which is good for the 3rd worst record in the league and with a run differential of -30, things aren’t looking promising.

What would it take to acquire the best pitcher in baseball?

First of all, Scherzer is owed $70M through the 2021 season, so it’s certainly plausible that the Nationals would, not necessarily go out of their way to, but would be open to deal the right-hander for salary relief and a solid return of prospects or young MLB players.

Mark DeRosa of MLB Network proposed this trade for the two clubs:

NYY sends:

1. Miguel Andujar
2. Clint Frazier
3. Greg Bird
4. Jonathan Loaisiga

WAS sends:

1. Max Scherzer

Would I be comfortable with that package for Max Scherzer? No. But would I pull the trigger? Absolutely. The Yankees can not miss out on an opportunity to acquire an elite starting pitcher this summer as they did back in 2017 with Justin Verlander. Just look at their projected rotation with Scherzer as their No. 1.

1. Max Scherzer
2. Luis Severino
3. James Paxton
4. Masahiro Tanaka
5. Domingo German