LA Angels: 3 blockbuster trade ideas that would put LA in contention

Max Scherzer

Let’s get weird. Max Scherzer might be 36 years old, but he is still amongst the best pitchers in the game. He gets paid a good chunk of money, but he is a free agent next season. The Washington Nationals don’t figure to be that great next season — they weren’t this past season — and likely will look to move some of their key pieces. Scherzer could be among the casualties.

Scherzer tossed 67 1/3 innings for the Nationals in 2020 with a 3.47 FIP. That’s a very solid number, especially considering his age. Before last season, he had not posted a season with above a 3.50 ERA since 2012 or an ERA above 3.00 since 2014. Pretty darn impressive.

One potential wrinkle in this is that Scherzer has a no-trade clause. It might be difficult to pry him away from Washington, but it’s also possible he would fancy the idea of playing with Mike Trout and helping a team get over the hump. Here’s a trade that could net the Angels an elite level starting pitcher for next season:

Angels receive: Max Scherzer

Nationals receive: Albert Pujols, Jordyn Adams (#3 prospect), Kyren Paris (#5 prospect)

Yes, this seems like a light package and that’s because it is. Max Scherzer is getting paid so much next season (roughly $34 million) that it makes it hard for any team to acquire him. The Nationals could likely use some salary relief as they look to start their rebuild, though.

You might be asking why they would want Albert Pujols and the short answer is that they don’t. However, if the money were even, Jordyn Adams and Kyren Paris are likely enough to procure Scherzer.