Promotional giveaway inspired by Max Scherzer nixed for next week against the Pirates

Where will those Max Scherzer sunglasses go?

Washington Nationals v New York Mets
Washington Nationals v New York Mets | Rich Schultz/GettyImages

The Ark of the Covenant may have a new neighbor in its government warehouse. The New York Mets had planned for August 16 to be a promotional giveaway of “two-toned sunglasses” inspired by Max Schezer. Scherzer’s two different colored eyes made it a tempting and unique giveaway to bring fans into Citi Field on an August afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As Tim Healey of Newsday came to realize, the trade deadline had more casualties than bodies. The promotions department and their idea of a Scherzer-inspired giveaway takes the L on this one. Who would’ve thought there was any chance of the Mets trading Scherzer when this one was scheduled?

Is there room to bury these next to Atari's ill-fated E.T. game?

The 2023 NY Mets aren’t the only ones with a giveaway taking place too late in the season

This has happened before. It’ll happen again. Even the Mets were victims of it in the past. Back in 2013, Marlon Byrd was traded to the same Pirates the Mets will be playing without a Scherzer giveaway. The problem was the Mets had already planned a giveaway of a Byrd shirt.

There is definitely some awkwardness with many of these post-trade deadline giveaways when the players are no longer around. This nearly decade-old story on Sports Illustrated covers some of the stranger ones in sports history and gives them a rating in terms of just how uncomfortable the situation is.

This particular promotion could’ve been far worse. Imagine if the Mets had it scheduled for one of their games against the Texas Rangers later in August. In certain situations, it would work out well. Scherzer could enjoy Mets fans receiving a gift in his honor. Because of the way things ended and how many fans feel about him now, the awkward meter would’ve needed to crank up to 11.

Healey is correct in pouring one out for the promotions department. Imagine the list of ideas they had for Justin Verlander next year they’ll never get to use. Does MLB allow trading of ideas for prospects? If so, send some out to the Houston Astros in exchange for another prospect. Steve Cohen will even chip into pay for the manufacturing cost.

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