Ray signs with Mariners

American League Cy Young winner leaves Jays for 5-year, $115M deal

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray has agreed to a five-year, $115 million (U.S.) contract with the Seattle Mariners, according to multiple media reports.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic were the first to report the deal.

Ray had a 13-7 record for the Toronto Blue Jays this past season with a 2.84 earned-run average and 248 strikeouts over 193⁄ 1 innings 3 pitched.

His ERA was the best in Major League Baseball while his innings pitched and strikeout totals were the best in the American League.

That year was sharp turnaround after a dismal 2020 when he led the majors in walks and went 2-5 with a 6.62 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Blue Jays during the pandemic-shortened season.

Ray is the second pitcher from Toronto’s 2021staff to depart in free agency.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Steven Matz finalized a four-year, $44million contract Monday.

And, according to reports Sunday, Marcus Semien has agreed to a seven-year, $175-million deal with Texas after one stellar year in Toronto in which he was named a finalist for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.

Scherzer and Mets nearing three-year deal

NEW YORK Eight-time all-star Max Scherzer is nearing a threeyear, $130-million (U.S.) deal with the New York Mets, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The $43.33-million average salary would easily set a baseball record, smashing the $36 million Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is averaging in his nine-year, $324-million contract with New York.

Scherzer, a 37-year-old right-hander, would have the right to opt out after the 2023 season to become a free agent once again. Scherzer also receives a full no-trade provision, requiring his approval for any deals.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer was 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA last season for the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired him on July 30. He struck out 236 and walked 36 in 179⁄ 1 innings, averaging 94.4 3 m.p.h. with his fastball in the final season of a seven-year, $210-million contract that included $105 million in deferred money payable from 2022 to 2028.

He is 190-97 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 major-league seasons for Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14), Washington and the Dodgers.

A workhorse who helped the Nationals win the 2019 World Series title, Scherzer won the AL Cy Young in 2013 and consecutive National League Cy Youngs in 2016 and 2017.

Scherzer joins a rotation headed by two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, who didn’t pitch after July 7 because of right forearm tightness.

Noah Syndergaard, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, left the Mets for a one-year, $21-million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.