Trending
The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss a significant portion of next season.
The 39-year-old right-hander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, had surgery Thursday after injections and other less-invasive treatments didn't relieve the pain. He is due $43,333,334 in the final season of a $130 million, three-year contract he signed with the New York Mets.
Scherzer, who was removed from the roster during the World Series because of back discomfort, had surgery Thursday, general manager Chris Young said Friday. Young said the team is hopeful Scherzer will be fully healed and recovered by June or July.
Scherzer said in a statement released by the team the back pain got worse after he returned to his offseason home in Florida, and that he got the diagnosis of a herniated disk.
Scherzer was limited to 23 starts in 2022 by a left oblique injury and 27 starts this year by neck spasms and a right teres muscle strain.
The Rangers also have former Mets star and two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom recovering from elbow surgery. He is out until at least late next season.
They also signed former Twins pitcher Tyler Mahle on Thursday, who also cannot pitch until after the All-Star break because of arm surgery.
Bucs add OFs
PITTSBURGH -- The Yankees traded outfielder Billy McKinney to the Pirates for cash considerations. McKinney had signed a minor league deal with the Yankees last week.
McKinney, who played in 48 games for New York in 2023, gets an opportunity to play more with the Pirates.
The 29-year-old is a former first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2013. He's played for the Yankees, Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last season, he hit six home runs and drove in 14 for the Yankees, while slashing .227/.320/.406.
Outside of the 2021 season with the Mets, this 48-game sample size was the best McKinney has played since 2019.
In another move, the Pirates acquired outfielder Edward Olivares from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league outfielder Deivis Nadal.
KC making moves
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals general manager J.J. Picollo upgraded his rotation and filled a corner outfield spot on Friday.
In the latest moves in what has become a busy offseason in Kansas City, the Royals agreed to a $32 million, two-year deal with pitcher Michael Wacha and a $13 million, two-year contract with outfielder Hunter Renfroe.
Wacha's deal calls for a $16 million salary next season and contains a $16 million player option for 2025, while Renfroe will get a $5.5 million salary next season with a $7.5 million player option for 2025 and a $1 million buyout.
Elsewhere:
n Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says a long-term agreement between the Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority to extend a lease at Camden Yards is moving forward for a vote by state officials next week. The governor announced the agreement is slated to go before the Maryland Stadium Authority on Monday. It also is expected to go before the state's Board of Public Works later that day. The Orioles confirmed the agreement in a statement.