Max Scherzer could be an option if Boston Red Sox fail to sign Jon Lester

Numerous teams are expected to show an interest in Max Scherzer once the free agent pitching market starts to take shape. It seems that he and the other available arms are all waiting to see what happens with Jon Lester, who could make his decision in the coming days. One of the teams in pursuit of Lester, the Boston Red Sox, could prove to an option for Scherzer if they miss out on their top target, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.

"The Red Sox, who continue to put on a full-court press to sign Lester, might nevertheless be shut out, which will force them to come up with an alternative.The first name that is going to stare them in the face and that the will begin to explore more aggressively than they already have, along with at least 10 other teams, is free agent Max Scherzer."

Boston’s desire to bring Lester back has remained atop the club’s offseason to-do list. They’ve made additions to their club offensively and still have more moves in the works – at least one outfielder will be traded and the team likely will look to acquire a second starting pitcher in addition to whichever one they end up signing – but adding frontline pitching is still a priority. Lester would seem to fit that mold perfectly given his history with the organization, ability to handle playing in the city, and his track record on the mound both during the regular and postseason.

Scherzer is hardly a second-best option here, but he appears content – likely due to his agent being Scott Boras – to wait things out as teams clamor to land Lester on a long term deal.

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The right-hander led the American League in wins in each of the past two seasons, winning the Cy Young Award in 2013 before following up with an 18-5 record, 3.15 ERA, and 1.175 WHIP this past season. He’ll be 31 this July, but as many have pointed out has thrown fewer innings in his career than the other top available pitchers on the market in Lester and James Shields. Scherzer turned down a contract extension from the Detroit Tigers last spring, believed to be for seven years and $144 million.

Boston joins a mix that already includes the Tigers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays. Each team is expected to show interest in Scherzer, though not all are likely candidates to end up signing him.