Editorials

Ken Rosenthal Believes Dodgers Could Pursue Max Scherzer

[new_royalslider id=”345″] It’s been a long wait already for the first big move from the new Los Angeles Dodgers front office.

Thus far, the claiming of Ryan Jackson and a trade for minor-leaguer Kyle Jensen have been the highlight of the offseason from Andrew Friedman and crew. The Dodgers were linked to free agent catcher Russell Martin, but he ultimately signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. While the team is not expected to sign any big contracts this winter, that could change rather rapidly.



According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Dodgers could pursue the best right-handed arm on the market:

Dodgers. A team in a funny spot. The Dodgers keep talking about reducing payroll, and their new club president, Andrew Friedman, excelled at fielding competitive teams on a budget with the Rays. Still, the Dodgers want to win, and it’s difficult to imagine that they will simply stop spending.
The team currently has more pressing needs — bullpen, shortstop, etc. But Zack Greinke is almost certain to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, leaving lefties Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu as the Dodgers’ only long-term starters.
Doesn’t mean the Dodgers will sign Lester or Scherzer. But it would behoove them to at least explore the possibility.

Scherzer turned down a six-year, $144 million extension from the Detroit Tigers last offseason and that could be the floor for a new deal. The right-hander is one year removed from a Cy Young season, and went 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 220.1 innings in 2014. He would combine with Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu to form one of the strongest quartets in any rotation. The power arm of Scherzer would fit in well with the Dodgers and in the NL West, where he would be pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark for a majority of the season.

The likelihood of the Dodgers signing the 30-year-old is low at the moment, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

2 Comments

  1. 30 year old power pitchers do not make good long term investments. It would be great for the next 2-3 years, but he’ll probably get a 6-7 year deal, and some team will eat it big in the last 3-4 years.

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