Sal Licata is officially declaring his relationship with Max Scherzer over.
The relationship went through a honeymoon phase through most of the 2022 season before things got rocky down the stretch, and the two thought some time apart would help, but after the offseason, it hasn't gotten any better.
So, Sal says Scherzer's rough outing on Sunday, which included allowing two home runs to Manny Machado, is the last straw. He's done.
"This actually pains me to say, because I love Max Scherzer," Sal said. "I hated him when he was with the Nationals, but I loved when the Mets signed him…even more important than trading for Francisco Lindor, that's how big signing Max Scherzer was. That was the move that showed us Steve Cohen ain't messing around.
"I loved him all the way until Atlanta last year. That's when I started seeing red flags in the relationship. I loved him, and I don't care who knew it, and then I started to see some red flags. But, like we do in many relationships, I ignored them…I believed he was gonna bounce back and dominate against the Padres because he got hammered in Atlanta. The equivalent of getting cheated on, that's how badly that loss in Atlanta hurt me. Maybe even worse. He was even worse in the Wild card Game, and then the excuses come in. he was hurt…fast forward to this year, where it's been one thing after another, whether it's the poor performances in the early going, the suspension, again in Atlanta, against the Yankees, you name it. If there is a big game that the $43 million a year man was brought here to pitch, he has failed in it. Every single one.
"For me, the relationship is officially over…[Sunday] was officially the end. It's over. Now, I can't stand Max Scherzer! Every time I see him in a big game, he gets crushed! He sucks in the big spots for this team."
Scherzer now holds a 4.31 ERA on the season, and will almost certainly opt into his player option next season. But Sal says it's time for a clean break, and the Mets should look to trade him.
"Max Scherzer is done. He's toast," Sal said. "He has been, I've been saying it for awhile, and I let the red flags go because I was in love with him. Now I see the light. That, to me, was his last chance.
"If there is some sucker that is willing to take him on, even if the Mets have to pay half of it…to get Max Scherzer out of here, and bring in a quality prospect…you can pay half of it to get prospects back from a team that believes Max Scherzer can help them. But Max Scherzer cannot help the Mets. That's over. He's had plenty of opportunities, and he's failed every single freaking time."
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