Mets are on verge of trading one of their aces as they wave white flag on season

The Mets, who waved the white flag on the season by trading closer David Robertson against his wishes, are on the verge of shipping out right-hander Max Scherzer, as first reporter by SNY:

“The Mets and Texas Rangers are in serious talks on a Max Scherzer trade. This deal is not done. There are hurdles to be crossed,” tweeted reporter Andy Martino, who pointed out that “Scherzer has a full no-trade clause and would have to approve any deal.”

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says, the “Mets and Rangers have agreed on trade to send Max Scherzer to Texas, pending Scherzer’s approval.”

Rosenthal adds: “Like all potential trades, this one also is pending a medical review. Scherzer just turned 39. He has had side and back issues this season, and also had oblique issues last season.

“One other detail to clear: Any transaction involving an exchange of more than $2M requires league approval. Good chance Mets are sending Rangers at least that much. Scherzer owed ~$14M for this season, and he can opt out of 2024. League has not yet been asked to approve the deal.”

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Not coincidentally, after Robertson was dealt, a peeved Scherzer said he wanted to have a chat with the front office, which is in full sell mode after MLB’s biggest payroll is history failed miserably.

“I probably have to have a conversation with our front office,” Scherzer said. “You’re trading our closer away. A bunch of people are going to have a conversation with the front office.”

Scherzer has a player option worth $43 million next season that he said he intended to invoke. He said he was “disappointed” by the Thursday night trade of Robertson.

“We put ourselves in this position,’’ Scherzer said. “We haven’t played well enough as a team. I’ve had a hand in that. You can’t get mad at anybody but yourself, but it stinks.”

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He added: “I wasn’t going to comment on this till [owner] Steve [Cohen] was going to sell,” Scherzer said. “We traded Robertson. Now I need to have a conversation and I will.”

Turns out, that conversation will include whether Scherzer would approve a trade to the Rangers.

The Rangers, one of the hottest teams in the first half, have cooled after the All-Star break, but made the first major trade of the deadline when they acquired ex-Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman from the Kansas City Royals. Entering Saturday’s games, the Rangers led the Houston Astros by two games in the AL West.

One more wrinkle: If the Mets want to trade Justin Verlander, their other salary albatross, it’s been reported that he’d likely OK a return to the Astros.

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