2 reasons Max Scherzer hasn't been worth the money, 1 reason he has been

When talking about the record-setting payroll the New York Mets have, two names highlight it. Both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander signed mega-deals to come to New York, with each future Hall of Famer making $43.3 million annually.

While it's too early to make much of the Verlander deal, Scherzer is in year two of his three-year deal. It's been an eventful Mets tenure so far for Scherzer with some highs, and a lot of lows.

Things can always change, but there're more reasons to come up with than not illustrating why Scherzer has not been worth the large contract he got.

NY Mets pitcher Max Scherzer has not been worth the money because he has not stayed healthy

Obviously the talent plays a huge role, but one of the big reasons Max Scherzer is a sure-fire lock for the Hall of Fame whenever he does retire is because of how durable he's been.

From 2009-2018, Scherzer made at least 30 starts each season while pitching at least 170 innings. In 2019 he made 27 starts, in the shortened 2020 season he made all 12 starts, and in 2021 he was able to make 30 starts.

Scherzer had been a workhorse for virtually his entire career, and was expected to be a guy the Mets could rely on to give them starts and innings. Maybe expecting 32 starts each year would be a stretch considering his age, but he hasn't given them enough on that end.

Scherzer made 23 starts last season and has made ten starts so far in 2023. 33 starts in a season and a half is not what the Mets signed up for. Even toward the end of last season it was clear Scherzer was pitching with some discomfort.

NY Mets pitcher Max Scherzer has not been worth the money because he has not pitched well in big games

Another big reason the Mets signed Max Scherzer was because of his experience. Scherzer has pitched in just about any situation imagineable and has come up clutch countless times.

In Scherzer's biggest game of the regular season in 2022, he faced the Braves with the NL East on the line. The Mets needed a win in Atlanta and Scherzer was lined up to pitch the second game of that weekend series.

The Mets co-ace allowed four runs including two home runs in 5.2 innings pitched in what ended up being a 4-2 loss. Scherzer had the chance to pitch like the ace he has always been, but just didn't get it done.

In his playoff start against the Padres Scherzer got absolutely rocked, allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He gave up four home runs. He got the Game 1 start and put the Mets in an immediate hole that they unfortunately could not climb out of. Scherzer didn't even give the Mets a chance.

Even this season, Scherzer had a chance to stop the bleeding in Atlanta with the Mets on a four-game losing streak and badly needing a win against their arch rival. Handed a 4-1 lead, Scherzer caughed that up and wound up giving up five runs in 5.2 innings of work. He only had one bad inning, but Scherzer simply didn't get it done.