With the Phillies past the $301 million third tier of the luxury tax, no one is expecting the team to add on the free agent market. Any potential signing would incur a 110% tax penalty. Apparently, the massive tax hasn’t stopped the Phillies from scouting one super veteran. Reportedly, they’ve checked in on 3X Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer.
Phillies doing their due diligence on Max Scherzer
According to Pat Ragazzo, the Phillies were 1 of 8 teams with scouts present when Scherzer threw for interested teams. He also added that Scherzer was in contact with the Toronto Blue Jays.
While the Phillies feel stocked in their rotation, Scherzer would be an interesting arm to slide into the bullpen. Both Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez left in free agency (Estévez still being a free agent). The Phillies signed Jordan Romano to bolster the back end of the bullpen this offseason. If interested in the move, Scherzer could be a high-leverage arm like John Smoltz was later in his career.
Although now 40 years old, Scherzer still has juice in the tank. This is a player destined for the Hall of Fame. From 2013-2022, Scherzer threw 1877.1 innings with a 2.78 ERA, a 150 ERA+. While not completely healthy the last 2 seasons, Scherzer was still effective with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.128 WHIP.
He also has a connection to Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski acquired Scherzer from the Diamondbacks in 2009 when he was GM of the Detroit Tigers.
Any significant Scherzer contract would be up to Dave Middleton. With the tax, a $10 million contract would cost the Phillies owner $21 million.
