Amidst the swirling trade rumors as major league baseball approaches its trade deadline, Texas Rangers’ star pitcher Max Scher’s future has come under the spotlight. As the Rangers struggle to remain in playoff contention, discussions have intensified about the possibility of Scherzer being traded, especially should the Rangers continue to drift from the playoff standings.

As of July 8, the Rangers recorded a 42-48 season standing, trailing the Seattle Mariners by 7.5 games in their division and the final Wild Card spot by a similar margin. Sources like Bob Nightagle of USA Today suggest that several teams have shown interest in Scherzer, viewing him as a prime candidate to bolster their pitching rosters.

The St. Louis Cardinals are emerging as a potential landing spot for Scherzer.

They are intent on solidifying their rotation around Sonny Gray and Kyle Gibson and adding a pitcher of Scherzer’s caliber could be what they need to make a deep playoff run. Scherzer, who had a delayed start to the season recovering from back surgery, has maintained impressive stats with a 2.70 ERA and 3.95 FIP over 16.2 innings across three starts.

His ability to limit walks while striking out 11 batters further distinguishes him as a valuable asset.

However, the prospect of acquiring Scherzer is not without its challenges. One significant hurdle is Scherzer’s no-trade clause which allows him to veto trades to teams not of his choosing.

Given his experience and stature, Scherzer is likely to favor playoff-bound teams that stand a solid chance in the postseason. His prior stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, where he boasted a 0.82 ERA over 11 starts, could see him lean towards a return to the West Coast.

Other contenders like the Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves, who like the Cardinals, are eager to bolster their pitching rotations, making the trading landscape competitive. Yet, Scherzer’s ties to the University of Missouri and previous interest in playing for St. Louis could sway him to waive his no-trade clause for the Cardinals if they stabilize their playoff positioning.

Furthermore, the financial aspect of the trade is another factor. Scherzer is in a “rental” year with about $6 million due for the remainder of his contract, thanks significantly to the New York Mets covering a portion of his salary. This makes him a costly but manageable investment for the right team.

Potential trade packages continue to stir debate with some analysts suggesting the Cardinals could offer a combination of young talents and MLB-ready prospects such as Tekoah Roby, Pete Hansen, Dylan Carlson, or Ivan Herrera, without having to give up top-tier prospects.

The decision by Texas to put Scherzer up for trade reflects their strategy of reassessing their team composition, temporarily stepping back this season to aim for contention next year, fresh off their last year’s World Series win.

Bringing Max Scherzer to St. Louis represents a calculated risk that could strengthen their pitching arsenal and turn their postseason aspirations into a formidable challenge for competitors. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this baseball chess move plays out in the Cardinals’ favor or sees Scherzer don another team’s uniform.