Re-grading all 6 Mets trade deadline deals from 2023

2) The Mets trade Max Scherzer to the Rangers for Luisangel Acuna

Before Verlander, the Mets made a similar deal when they sent Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers. His contract doesn’t have as many stipulations. Fully complete after 2024, the Mets paid his entire salary in 2023 and are on the hook for another $20.83 million this year. What the Rangers got out of this deal was a veteran they’ll pay to spend a good part of this year on the IL—at least to get things started.

Scherzer wasn’t excellent with the Rangers, particularly in the playoffs where he only appeared in the ALCS and World Series. Unable to give them any sort of length in the postseason, it felt like a minor Mets victory to see him be more of a role-player than shining star.

However, Scherzer did get a ring. That has to count for something.

The prospect the Mets got back for him, Luisangel Acuna, remains well-hyped despite a downgraded performance once he joined New York’s Double-A team up in Binghamton. Some top prospect lists have dropped him out of their top 100 entirely. That’s not to suggest he’s a complete bust in their eyes. The worry of him being overly ranked because of his bloodline is in fact real. Acuna will probably never be his brother and yet he can still turn into a really good major league player.

Because the Rangers did win with Scherzer and there is only one prospect who could make or break this trade for the Mets, it’s good but not as good as the one with Verlander.

Grade: B