MLB Trade Rumors: Tigers’ Max Scherzer for Yankees’ Ichiro Suzuki Deal Very Possible
The New York Yankees could pull off a blockbuster trade that would further provide firepower to their already potent lineup.
According to the latest trade rumors, the Pinstripes might be interested in sending veteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to the Detroit Tigers for Max Scherzer, who recently ended his contract negotiations with the team.
In an article on Sports World Report, Suzuki was linked to a trade that could change the landscape of the American League. The Yankees have already been dethroned by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team with the highest payroll, but that doesn't mean general manager Brian Cashman will stop adding talent to his roster.
Scherzer's agent reportedly offered the club an eight-year contract that would make him one of the highest-paid hurlers in the major leagues. Detroit's front office, however, rejected the deal and restructured a new six-year, $142 million offer that Scherzer turned down.
"The Tigers and Scherzer could not agree on a new deal after extension talks failed and before they broke down, there was a deal being talked about that would have made him one of the highest paid pitchers in the game," Sports World Report stated.
The Yankees could make a run at Scherzer in an attempt to add another star in a starting rotation consisting of another former Cy Young winner CC Sabathia, Japanese import Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda.
The Yankees might use a battle-tested Suzuki and another top prospect in a trade package for Scherzer, who would surely get the contract he wants with the free-spending team.
There are reports the Yankees are willing to pay a large portion of Suzuki's remaining salary to facilitate a deal. The 40-year-old Suzuki batted .262 with seven homers and 35 RBIs last season with the Yankees. He's due to receive $6.5 million of the two-year deal he signed in 2013.
On the other hand, Scherzer went 21-3 with 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts to win his first career American League CY Young Award.