Max Scherzer could be on his way from the Mets to the Rangers, who are close to agreeing on a deal for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
The Texas Rangers acquired three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in a blockbuster trade with the New York Mets on Saturday night, an all-in move for the surprise leaders in the AL West, a person with knowledge of the deal said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced.
The Rangers added the 39-year-old Scherzer with another former Mets pitcher with Cy Young credentials, two-time winner Jacob deGrom, sidelined by Tommy John elbow surgery, possibly all the way through the end of next season.
According to multiple reports, the deal nets New York one of the top Texas prospects in infielder Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr.
As part of the deal, Scherzer agreed to opt in on the final year of his contract in 2024 at $43 million, according to reports that also said the Mets were paying about $35 million of the remaining $58 million on the right-hander’s contract.
The Mets, one of baseball’s biggest disappointments, unloaded Scherzer two days after sending closer David Robertson to Miami for two minor leaguers.
New York began the season with the highest payroll in baseball at $353 million but started the day 17 games behind Atlanta in the NL East and 6 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
Texas has emerged from six consecutive losing seasons to lead the AL West all but one day in three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy’s first season as manager.
The Rangers made the first notable move of this trading season by getting once-dominant closer Aroldis Chapman from Kansas City in June. Chapman has stayed in a setup role with Will Smith handling most of the closing duties.
Now Texas has bolstered the rotation knowing deGrom might be out until Scherzer’s contract expires at the end of next season.
PHILLIES: Philadelphia designated Navy veteran Noah Song for assignment.
The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher was taken by the Phillies from Boston in the Rule 5 draft during the league’s winter meetings in December with hopes he would play after completing his military service.
If Song clears waivers, Boston will have the option of taking him back to its organization.
Song reported to major league spring training on Feb. 23 after the Navy granted his transfer from active duty to the reserves. Song hadn’t pitched in a professional game since Aug. 29, 2019, for Class A Lowell.
DODGERS: All-Star Mookie Betts was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup with right ankle soreness.
He injured his ankle while trying to back out of an inside pitch from Alexis Diaz in the eighth inning of Friday’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Manager Dave Roberts said Betts is day-to-day with minor swelling and soreness.
Betts has played in 99 of the team’s 102 games this season, starting 98 times. He is batting .277 with 27 home runs.
ANGELS: Manager Phil Nevin was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for a postgame outburst at an umpire following a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery managed the Angels during the second game of the three-game series as Nevin served his suspension.
Nevin was seen holding up a tablet computer and yelling at plate umpire Mike Estabrook as the crew left the field after the 4-1 loss Friday night.
The umpires access their locker room through the tunnel at the end of the visitor’s dugout on the first base side of Rogers Centre.
BLUE JAYS: Toronto put closer Jordan Romano on the 15-day injured list because of a sore lower back, one day after the right-hander left with two outs in the ninth inning of a win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Romano left the July 11 All-Star Game because of a sore back and did not pitch again until July 20.
Romano pitched three more times before Friday, when he appeared uncomfortable on the mound. Manager John Schneider came out for a visit and left Romano in the game, but later replaced him with Yimi García.
CUBS: Chicago activated third baseman Nick Madrigal from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Miles Mastrobuoni to Triple-A Iowa.
Set to start Friday night against the Cardinals, Madrigal was placed on the injured list July 4 because of a strained right hamstring. He played five rehabilitation games with Iowa, going 5 for 18. In 53 games for Chicago this season, he’s hitting .278 with one homer and 17 RBI.
Mastrobuoni has hit .212 with a homer and four RBIs in 42 games with Chicago this season.
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