Just before midnight on Saturday, it has been reported that the Washington Nationals and Max Scherzer have struck a deal, bringing the ace to an already potent rotation for 7 years. The contract is said to be worth $210 million with half the value deferred, and he will make $15 million per year over 14 years. If this amount is accurate, it would make Scherzer the second highest paid pitcher only behind The 6 yr /$215 million contract the Dodgers gave Clayton Kershaw last year.

Scherzer joins Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman, all of which are top of the rotation starters, and round out with Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez. Left out for the moment is Tanner Roark, who has great potential as well, which was evident this past season.

There has been talk around the league this past week that the St Louis Cardinals and Scherzer had a mutual interest in each other, and many believed it was just a matter of working out the numbers to bring him to St Louis. So it comes as somewhat of a shock that the Nationals appeared seemingly out of nowhere Saturday afternoon to finalize a deal.

Max Scherzer’s first 7 years in the league have seen him post a career record of 91-50 with a 3.58 ERA, however, it’s been his last 2 years that have everyone believing he has come into his own. These past 2 years, he has started a combined 65 games and posted a record of 39-8 with a 3.01 ERA. Those numbers will push anyone into elite status. Now we will see what the next 7 years will produce for the ace as he moves to the less potent NL, to pitch for a new team, in the very pitcher friendly confines of RFK Stadium, in front of a new home crowd. Let the Max Scherzer experience begin.

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