New York Mets: Max Scherzer on the cusp of history again in 2022
Max Scherzer made history when he signed this offseason with the New York Mets. The 37-year-old right-hander will have the chance to make even more history when he takes the mound in 2022 for his new team.
New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer could reach the milestone of 200 career wins during the 2022 season
After signing a three-year, $130 million deal (a record average annual value of $43.3 million per season) before the Major League Baseball lockout went into effect, Scherzer is set to begin a new chapter in his career, joining Jacob deGrom to form a powerful 1-2 combination at the head of the New York Mets rotation.
Scherzer was part of a massive spending spree by the Mets before the lockout began, and that spending included money to upgrade the offense as well. Outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha along with infielder Eduardo Escobar will transform the look of the lineup and should (on paper) provide plenty of pop at the plate.
That extra offense will be a benefit for Mets pitchers, including Scherzer, who enters 2022 with a chance to join an exclusive pitching club.
In MLB history, 116 pitchers have won 200 or more games. Scherzer will make his debut with the Mets sitting at 190 wins, needing to reach double digits in victories this year to reach that 200-win plateau. Recording 10 or more wins is something Scherzer has done every season since 2010 (with the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign), compiling an average 16-8 record through each of his 14 seasons.
Scherzer is one of three pitchers who could reach 200 wins this season, along with Clayton Kershaw (185) and Adam Wainwright (184). After that trio, the active leader in wins is David Price with 155, meaning it could be a while until we see another MLB pitcher break the 200-win mark.
After Scherzer recorded his 3,000th career strikeout last season, he said, “Everybody can have the ability to do this, but few have the durability to do this.” The same can be said for the next milestone that Scherzer is about to reach.