The Sunday Read: Max Scherzer won’t be, can’t be Rangers’ final deadline move

(AP photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Max Scherzer is, to say the least, a significant addition for the Rangers, not just for their playoff hopes this season but also for 2024.

That’s right: The Rangers will have him next season, too, after he exercised his $43.33 million player option. The Rangers are getting Scherzer’s services for a bargain price of $22 million after the Mets agreed to pay $36 million of the $58 million Scherzer is owed.

With fellow right-hander Jacob deGrom out until August and left-handers Martin Perez and Andrew Heaney potentially leaving via free agency, Scherzer will be a key cog in the 2024 rotation.

The Mets received Double A shortstop Luisangel Acuna, 21, and some financial flexibility, as crazy as that sounds, for their offseason pursuits. Acuna could blossom into an excellent player. It’s in his blood, after all, but it’s a stretch to say that he will be better than Corey Seager.

So, it’s a very good deal for the Rangers. And it won’t be their last before the trade deadline arrives at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Scherzer is going to help, but he’s not going to carry the Rangers to the playoffs.