Scherzer Dealt to Rangers, Is Verlander Next?

 The New York Mets essentially waved the white flag when they agreed to terms on a trade Saturday night with the Texas Rangers that sends starting pitcher Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers for No. 3 overall prospect Luisangel Acuna, in a move that sent shock waves through Major League Baseball.

A day later, those shock waves can still be felt as questions abound about what will be next for the Mets. 

There was plenty of drama on Saturday. Would Scherzer accept the trade? Would he wave his no trade clause?  The answer was 'yes' to both. 

Moreover, he decided to opt-in to his 2024 player option, likely signaling he will end his career in Texas in 2024. 

And in turn, the Mets have to pay down a majority of what is owned the former Cy Young Award winner. $35 million of the remaining $58.3 million remaining to be exact. The Rangers are on the hook for only $22 million. 

The trade ends an up and down tenure for Scherzer which lasted only 1-1/2 seasons, certainly shorter than anyone would have expected when he signed a two-year deal, with a player option for 2024.  When Scherzer came aboard, it gave the Mets some instant credibility. They signed a player who was one of their ultimate tormentors when he was the ace of the Washington Nationals; a World Series champion in 2019. 

With the Mets, he was stellar for most of the 2022 season. He was asked to be the "ace" last season until Jacob deGrom returned in late August, and he lived up to it. By August 12 of last season, Scherzer's ERA was 1.93. 

Then he hit a wall and was never the same. His poor outings against Atlanta at the end of the year, and against San Diego in the playoffs, unfortunately are what Mets fans harp on the most. 

This year, Scherzer was an inconsistent 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA. He had some good starts. He also had plenty of bad starts. To trade Scherzer and get a player who comes as highly regarded as Acuna was a solid play by Eppler.

This move, coupled with the trade of David Robertson make it obvious that the Mets are willing rebuild, and Steve Cohen is willing to pay to make it happen. Cohen said he would do what it took to rebuild the minor league system if indeed that was in play. Even with the Mets six back in the wild card race, the truth is this team was and is going nowhere.  It was time to reshuffle the deck. 

Yet is also curious that GM Billy Eppler on Sunday didn't call it a fire sale, calling it instead a "repurposing" of Steve Cohen's finances in the team. Eppler also stayed firm that the team was not rebuilding and would compete in 2024. 

 

Considering Cohen is the richest owner in baseball, that's not hard to see. He has shown a desire to spend money in order to win right away. It worked partially in 2022 when the Mets won 101 games. It failed miserably this season. 

The trade of Scherzer of course has left a lot players asking questions. Brandon Nimmo told reporters on Saturday night he wanted to speak to the front office, a refrain Scherzer stated on Friday after the shock of David Robertson's trade. 

Justin Verlander, one of Scherzer's best friends from their days in Detroit, is also twisting in the wind right now. Reports are the Mets are listening to trade proposals. They may or may not move him. Last night and early Sunday morning there was talk of both the Dodgers and Astros with strong interest. On sunday, SNY's Andy Martino reported that Verlander might stay put.

After his start on Sunday, Verlander thanked the fans and stressed that he would like to remain in the organization. 

"I'm committed to try and win a championship here, but if the organization decides that that's not the direction that's best fit for next year, I'd be open to it." 

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Getty Images.

In all fairness, if the Mets are going to make a few more moves to reposition this franchise to be in better position to compete in 2024, perhaps moving the 40-year old Verlander would be the best move. It would help clear his mind about the future, and it might serve the team best since they would get a top prospect in return. 

Verlander is an all-timer. He won his 250th career game on Sunday, he would certainly help someone who is trying to compete for a World Championship this season. 

On the flip side if Mets do indeed ship Verlander out of town in only the first year of a three year contract that he agreed to six months ago, it would also put into question how players view Steve Cohen's loyalty on contract's. A quick trigger finger and people would assume that the Mets' word isn't necessarily their bond, if things ever go south. 

Yes, this is professional sports, players get dealt, but when you have a team that had the richest payroll in baseball at $350 million, and the game's most wealthy owner, who is willing to do whatever it takes to win in the long term, it creates an aura of unpredictability. 

What will happen next is anyone's guess at this point.

Sean Payton War of Words Against Jets, Robert Saleh Takes the High Road

 When asked Thursday afternoon about controversial comments Broncos head coach Sean Payton made about his football team, Jets head coach Robert Saleh didn't take the bait. 

"I am not going to acknowledge Sean on that. He has been in the league a while; he can say whatever the hell he wants. I live by the saying if you ain't got no haters, you ain't popping. So hate away. Obviously we are doing something right, if we don't play you until week 5.

There is a lot of crows pecking at our neck. But all you can do is spread your wings until those crows fall off." 

Earlier in the day, Payton was quoted in USA Today blasting the Jets for winning the off-season, and calling current Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was the Broncos head coach a year ago, as performing "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL."

 

Said Payton: "We're not doing any of that," he said alluding to the Jets Hard Knocks appearance. "The Jets did that this year. You watch. 'Hard Knocks,' all of it. I can see it coming. Remember when [former Washington owner] Dan Snyder put that Dream Team together? I was at the Giants [in 2000]. I was a young coach. I thought, 'How are we going to compete with them? Deion's [Sanders] there now.' That team won eight games or whatever. So, listen … just put the work in."

It's odd that Payton would take such veiled shots. This is a guy who came from the Bill Parcells coaching tree, and Parcells was never known as dishing out bulletin board material as a coach.  In fact it was typically frowned upon. 

It is also wild that Payton would rip a fellow NFL coach as doing a historically bad job. Even if he is right in such an assumption, to let that out in the media is a poor job on his part. 

Also, it's not like the Jets wanted to do Hard Knocks. Quiet the contrary, they did everything they could to NOT do it. It was the NFL that wanted them on the program this summer. 

As for Saleh, he took the high road, even though he was clearly upset by the comments. It's not the first time that he has used knocks on his football team to rev up his players. 

Last year, Saleh was not pleased with the amount of criticism his team took after its Week 1 loss to Baltimore and proclaimed, "We're all taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say that we ain't going to do anything,”

The Jets went on to win six of their next seven games after that statement. 

The Jets beat the Broncos (then coached by Hackett) last year 16-9. The two rivals, who haven't really been heated rivals since their AFC Championship match-up back in 1998,  will meet again in Week 5. Get ready for some receipts talk to commence that week.

Jets Linked to Dalvin Cook After Aaron Rodgers Contract Negotiation

 Aaron Rodgers gave the Jets a needed boost when he and the club agreed to a new two-year $75 million contract that will reduce his salary by $35 million, thus giving the Jets needed cap space to go ahead and add players the next two years. 

The contract indicates that the future Hall of Famer intends to stay in New York more than one year, which is music to the ears of Jets fans everywhere. 

Rodgers, whose initial contract with Green Bay was $110 million, before it was renegotiated down to $58 million to make the trade to New York happen, will receive a $35 million signing bonus and only $1.2 million in salary this year. He is due to make $38 million next year. 

The Jets will also defer payments through 2027 to the quarterback. 

With Rodgers now set contractually, rumors are heating up that the Jets are closing in on former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. 

Cook was a dynamic playmaker for the Vikings, averaging 4.7 yards per carry in his career there. He would create an interesting mix at running back for the Jets should he sign here. The Jets already have two talented backs in Breece Hall and Michael Carter. However, Hall is on the P.U.P. list as he recovers from the ACL injury he suffered last season. Carter is coming off a down year in 2023. 

All three backs together would be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. 

There is a belief that Cook, who will visit the Jets this weekend, could end up signing, although there is always the chance someone else will swoop in. 

Cook will come with some baggage. He was recently accused of assault by an ex-girlfriend. So far that hasn't stopped the Jets pursuit of Cook, whom they have been linked to for weeks. 

Moreover, Garrett Wilson gave the Jets a bit of a scare on Thursday when he came up lame in practice. Robert Saleh said it was a ankle injury, but nothing too serious. 

Giants Left Tackle Andrew Thomas Signs Record Extension

 Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas is now a very, very rich man. 

The All-Pro tackle, who has been a solid foundation piece for Big Blue the past three seasons signed a record setting extension this week with the Giants. The contract is good for five years at $117.5 million. 

$67 million of that contract is guaranteed over the lifetime of the contract setting a league record for an offensive lineman. 

Thomas has emerged over the past few seasons as one of the game’s best-left tackles, earning All-Pro honors, starting 44 games, and two playoff games during that stretch.

 He has protected the blindside of quarterback Daniel Jones, who is coming off a career year in his own right and helped to create lanes for running back Saquon Barkley.

This signing means that the Giants have completed a very busy off-season of securing its core pieces. They inked Jones to four year, $160 million dollar deal earlier this off-season, and Dexter Lawrence to a four-year, $90 million deal.

The Giants just inked Saquon Barkley to a one-year deal worth $11 million and can slap a franchise tag on him again in 2024.

Aaron Rodgers Lights Up Jets Practice

 The New York Jets opened their training camp practices to the public for the first time on Saturday, and boy what a show Aaron Rodgers put on for the fans. He threw three touchdown passes and fans were chanting the future Hall of Famer's name throughout. It was a sight to behold. Here is vlog as I share the experience with you! 

Jets Ink Quinnen Williams to Long Term Deal

 Give a lot of credit to Jets General Manager Joe Douglas.  

A day after they were named to HBO's Hard Knocks, the Jets were able to complete their contract negotiation with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, inking the Pro Bowler to a four-year, $96 million deal.

 

Williams is the second highest paid DT in the League on an annual salary behind the Rams' Aaron Donald. 

This was a deal that had to get done. Williams wanted a long term deal, and was willing to hold out until he got one. With training camp a week away, and with HBO camera's a week away from making their way to Florham Park, the Jets got the deal done to limit and "distractions." 

Williams was one of the best players in the league last season, a disruptive force that opponents had to account for with double-teams. For the most part those double teams didn't work as Williams plowed through offenses all season long. 

Now the focus can go squarely to preparing for the 2023 season. The Jets have their quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. They have both Williams Brothers (Quinnen and Quincy back on long term deals). Let's get this going and see what happens!

Giants and Barkley at Impass over Contract

 Saquon Barkley's future with the New York Giants is up in the air at this hour as he and the New York Giants are at a stalemate over his contract extension. 

There is legit concern at this hour as the Giants and Barkley have until Monday at 4 p.m. to hammer out a deal. There is still time, but the clock is ticking. 

According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the Giants offered Barkley $13 million a year, but the Pro Bowl running back wants $16 million annually.  

Florio goes on to say that since the Giants inked quarterback Daniel Jones to a long term deal, "they have not to date been willing to put the $13 million per year offer back on the table for Barkley."

The Giants franchise tagged Barkley in the spring which will pay him $14 million this season, but if Barkley feels he can't get the deal he wants, he has threatened to sit out the season. 

 In short, things are going to get really interesting in the next few days. 

If Barkley indeed sits out, do the Giants trade him? Does he have any value? Do the Giants jump into the Dalvin Cook market, which has not developed at all? These are storylines to pay attention to over the next several days. 

The Jets Will Star in HBO Hard Knocks This Summer

 Light, Camera, and Action! 

The New York Jets are returning to HBO's training camp mini-series Hard Knocks, even if they really wanted no part of it. 

But, hey, here we are. 

The NFL had the choice of four teams and they selected the Jets because, well, they made the biggest off-season splash of the year by trading for ex-Packers quarterback, four time League MVP, Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, that would certainly get a lot of attention. 

The inevitable became reality on Wednesday morning, even though -- as was previously reported -- the Jets wanted no part of the series this summer. 

It will be interesting to see how this affects the Jets own reality series that they shoot during the year called 1 Jets Drive. Would it be put on hold? 

1 Jets Drive is an Emmy Award winning series the Jets have produced for the past five years. It is fantastic. That said, there is a tinge of self-awareness in the self-produced series. The Jets aren't going to show you everything in those videos. HBO, on the other hand, lives off such drama as cuts, disagreements and player movement during training camp. 

 

The last time the Jets appeared on Hard Knocks was 2010, and it was a smashing success. In fact, it was the best season of Hard Knocks ever! 

What will we get for an encore? Expect a lot of Aaron Rodgers. And I mean a lot of Aaron Rodgers. Don't be shocked if HBO takes an interest in Zach Wilson, and his mother -- who is not shy about stating her opinions on social media. Saucer Gardner is always entertaining, and oh, there is a contract stand-off with Quinnen Williams. How nice. 

The Jets report a week from today, and hold their first open to the public scrimmage on July 22. 

Derek Jeter makes his pitch for Yankees to trade for Juan Soto

 Derek Jeter seems to be really taking to his new gig as analyst for Fox Sports' MLB coverage. Not only does he provide sound analysis and humor, but he is making bold proclamations as well. 

 

During Fox's coverage of the 2023 MLB All-Star game, Jeter proclaimed that if the San Diego Padres are indeed out of contention, the Yankees should consider trading for Juan Soto. 

Jeter's reason for such a bold move is the uncertainty of the health of Aaron Judge. The Yankees say Judge will be back this season, but who knows really? 

Of course were the Yankees to make such a bold move they would have to give up the farm to get Soto who is not a free agent until 2025. 

Sean Casey named New Yankees Hitting Coach

 In the surprise move of the All-Star Break, the New York Yankees announced that former Cincinnati Reds slugger Sean Casey will become the new hitting instructor of the major league club.

Casey agreed to take on the job through the end of the year, despite not having any coaching experience.

The move comes 24 hours after the Yankees agreed to part ways with hitting coach Dillon Lawson who was only in his second season on the job as hitting coach.

 While Casey may not have previous coaching experience he was a phenomenal hitter over a 13-year career that spanned five different organizations. Casey hit .302 with a .367 on base percentage in his career with 130 homers. He was a three-time All-Star with the Reds, and was the glue of their lineup in the late 90s/early 00s.

As I wrote on Fox Sports New Jersey, this is an interesting hire. For starters, Casey has the strong connection to Aaron Boone, whom he was teammates with in Cincinnati from 1998 to 2003. Moreover he does not come with the analytical background that Lawson was steeped in. This is going to be pure baseball 101, "see the ball, hit the ball" kind of stuff the Yankees will get from Casey. 

He should be a coach that commands respect, and will definitely have the ear of the younger players when he walks in the door. 

For a team hitting at .230 on the year, there is no way to go but up at this point.

Carlos Rodon Returns, But Yankees Can't Score

 Carlos Rodon marked his debut in Yankees pinstripes by pitching well enough in his first regular season action since last September.

But, it wasn't enough as the Yankees couldn't muster much offense, falling to the Chicago Cubs 3-0.

Rodon was out-dueled by ex-Yankees pitcher Jamison Tallion, who blanked the Yankees over eight stellar innings on the mound.

Tallion held the Yanks to just one hit, a Gleyber Torres single in the bottom of the first inning. At one point he retired 13 consecutive batters before surrendering a walk to Billy McKinny in the fifth inning.

The Yankees as a team, left two men on base, and didn't record a runner in scoring position.

On the flip side, Rodon had his moments in his MLB season debut. He retired the first six Cubs to face him before Cody Bellinger launched a pitch into the right field bleachers that handed Chicago a 1-0 lead.

While Rodon did well it wasn't enough. 

The Yankees offense remains in a huge funk. They are 1-for-6 with RISP in the last three games, and have only three extra base hits during this recent skid. 

With two games left before the All-Star Break, the Yankees are a full game behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild card spot. Gerrit Cole and Domingo German pitch the next two games, the Yankees need to win both to get to 50 wins by the Break. 

Mets Acquire Gott and Flexen from Mariners

 The New York Mets remain are getting busy on the trade circuit. 

Days after Steve Cohen's press conference where he demanded that his players step up and play better, the Mets made a trade with the Seattle Mariners to acquire Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen for minor league reliever Zach Muckenhirn. 

 As soon as the deal was done, the Mets designated Flexen for assignment. 

 

If the name Flexen sounds familiar, it should. He pitched for the Mets from 2017 to 2019, and was not impressive, posting an ERA over eight. 

The Mets made this move as a cash dump to try get a reliever like Gott who has a 4.03 ERA this season and a 4.70 ERA in his career. 

The Mets are not shy on making moves like this. They already traded Eduardo Escobar to the Angels in order to pay down that contract, and get two minor league pitchers in return. 

 

Cohen made no qualms about that desire to pay down contracts in order to acquire better talent from teams if the Mets continue to freefall out of playoff contention. 

The Mets right now have to feel pretty good about themselves after taking the final two games of their series against San Francisco. It was the Mets first series win in over a month.