The amazing value of Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers

In honor of Bobby Bonilla Day, we take another look at a deal that is almost unbelievable in MLB.

Max Scherzer is a shoo-in Hall of Famer when he retires. He has passed up Greg Maddux on the all-time strikeout list recently and has had an outstanding start since returning from the injured list. But the Texas Rangers are paying a bargain-basement price for him.

The reason why they could get him in the first place? Because his previous teams are picking up the bulk of his tab.

In 2024, Scherzer is set to earn $15 million from the Nationals and over $30.8 million from the Mets in addition to the $12.5 million that Texas pays him. That is a total of over $58.3 million for Max.

The payments from both Washington and New York are due on July 1 each year and are due to the way money was deferred in the structuring of the contracts. Just like Bobby Bonilla.

There are rumors swirling that Texas may want to trade him before the deadline this year, but if Bruce Bochy has anything to say about it, then those will be more wishful thinking than anything else.

Scherzer is back from off-season back surgery and has allowed only two runs on five hits and eight strikeouts in his 10.1 innings of work this season. A perennial 100+ inning guy for nearly all of his career, Bochy will want to build on Max and prop him up rather than sell him off.

And besides, the Rangers are in a deep hole but they are not yet out of the fight for a playoff spot. Things are just getting good.