Nationals and Max Scherzer agree to 3-year extension

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

(CNN) – Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer agreed to a three-year, $110 million contract extension with the team on Saturday.

He is the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history, per the Baseball Relocation Database. The Rockies had planned to trade ace pitcher Kyle Freeland to Washington in exchange for Scherzer, but the negotiations have hit an impasse and Colorado opted to trade him to the San Diego Padres.

Scherzer, 31, is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season, when he will be eligible for his fifth year of service. He is 27-9 with a 2.64 ERA in 337 1/3 innings pitched this season.

Scherzer has won a league-leading 219 games since he signed his first contract with the Nationals before the 2013 season. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and a three-time All-Star, as well as a National League MVP finalist last season.

Before announcing their agreement, Nationals officials fielded questions about their plan for the ace pitcher. General manager Mike Rizzo told reporters that despite all the time that has passed since the previous negotiations, the clock on negotiating with his player had not started again.

“He knows what’s going on. We want to have him back,” Rizzo said. “He knows what’s going on. I can’t think of a better guy that’s had the type of run of success that he’s had.”

Scherzer said he was glad he had one more year left on his contract.

“I’m honored to be a part of this organization,” he said. “Thank you to the fans for giving me the opportunity to be here, the opportunity to win. It’s time to finish this off.”

Copyright 2018 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Leave a Comment