Defending champs add dynamic duo
LOS ANGELES — The World Series champion L.A. Dodgers pulled off a monster deal for ace Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner, getting the dynamic duo from the Washington Nationals shortly before Friday’s trade deadline.
Washington acquired a pair of rookies, right-hander Josiah Gray and catcher Keibert Ruiz, and two minor leaguers, righty Gerardo Carrillo and outfielder Donovan Casey.
Scherzer had been given permission to speak to the Dodgers to see if he would waive his right to veto any trade, a power he had as a 10year veteran who has been with his team for at least five years.
“Today is heart wrenching as we say goodbye to two of the most accomplished players and two of the best people in our team’s history,” Nationals owner Mark Lerner said.
The deal came with the Dodgers three games behind NL West-leading San Francisco. L.A. owns the top spot in the wild-card race, 2 1/2 games ahead of San Diego.
With the Major League Baseball trade deadline at 1 p.m. PT, there had been speculation on Thursday the Padres would be the winners in the Scherzer sweepstakes.
Instead, the Dodgers got busy. They made a trade early in the day for longtime Kansas City lefthanded starter Danny Duffy, then closed in on Scherzer, the biggest prize in this deadline frenzy.
The Nationals, who have fallen out of playoff contention, were equally active, making several trades in 24 hours.
Scherzer is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts this season, and also started the All-Star Game for the National League this month.
Scherzer posted a win for the Nationals on Thursday, when he pitched six innings of one-run ball at Philadelphia in the first game of a doubleheader.
A three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, Scherzer joins a deep and talented pitching staff that includes Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, David Price and others.
Scherzer has a $35 million salary in the final season of a $210 million, seven-year contract and can become a free agent after the World Series.
The 37-year-old Scherzer is a fierce competitor, often stalking the mound in-between pitches, firing up himself and his teammates.
Scherzer is 183-97 – including two no-hitters – in a 14-year career with Arizona, Detroit and Washington. Turner is batting .322 with 18 home runs and 49 RBs, along with 21 stolen bases.