ARLINGTON, Texas — Two acquainted faces and aces have been current to greet the Mets throughout pregame exercises Monday at Globe Life Area.
Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are on the injured listing and have barely pitched for the Rangers since their respective departures from the Mets, however each are trying towards the summer time forward.
Scherzer, who’s coping with a nerve difficulty that manifested in his thumb, is probably going nearer to a return, with it attainable the three-time Cy Younger award winner will be a part of the Rangers’ rotation subsequent weekend for his season debut.
The best-hander underwent again surgical procedure final winter that originally sidelined him to start out the season.
DeGrom is rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure and sure received’t pitch for the membership earlier than August.
Each pitchers mentioned they nonetheless communicate with former Mets teammates.
“There’s undoubtedly some nice guys in that clubhouse,” Scherzer mentioned, referring to the Mets. “I undoubtedly maintain tabs on how they’re doing and the way they’re enjoying.”
Scherzer waived his no-trade clause final July after he was instructed in a dialog with group brass that the Mets’ focus was on 2025 and past.
Scherzer agreed to train his $43.3 million choice for this season as a part of that deal, with the Mets choosing up half. In return, the Mets acquired a prime prospect from the Rangers in Luisangel Acuña.
“It was a baseball resolution, every little thing that went down — choices needed to be made,” Scherzer mentioned. “It was unlucky I used to be in that place, however everyone needed to make a baseball resolution on all sides and for me it labored out properly.”
However Scherzer wouldn’t say if this Mets season — the group entered play 33-37 and fourth within the NL East — has unfolded as he anticipated it’d following his dialog on the commerce deadline final yr with proprietor Steve Cohen.
“That’s not for me to debate,” Scherzer mentioned. “I’m a Texas Ranger. No matter occurs is simply what goes on with the Mets group. Steve is clearly operating an amazing ship. I actually loved enjoying for him. He’s acquired the sights on how he desires to win a championship.”
Scherzer pitched to a 3.20 ERA in eight begins for the Rangers following final season’s commerce.
He missed a lot of the postseason with again discomfort, however returned to pitch three scoreless innings in Recreation 3 of the World Collection towards the Diamondbacks.
Earlier than the week was over he was hoisting the World Collection trophy within the winner’s clubhouse.
The 39-year-old future Corridor of Famer mentioned he want to pitch past this season.
“My coronary heart’s in it, yeah,” Scherzer mentioned. “I undoubtedly need to. I got here into this yr desirous to pitch subsequent yr. I didn’t come into this yr considering it was my final yr.”
DeGrom left the Mets for a five-year deal value $185 million from the Rangers after the 2022 season.
However the right-hander began solely six video games for his new membership earlier than present process Tommy John surgical procedure final June. On Monday he threw from a mound for the primary time since his surgical procedure.
“I’ve been by way of this earlier than so I type of knew what to anticipate,” mentioned deGrom, who tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly after he was drafted by the Mets. “The principle factor is being good and never making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. Now we have been sticking to this system, every little thing has been going good and we need to maintain it that manner.”
DeGrom didn’t journey with the Rangers final season to Citi Area in what would have been a homecoming.
The 2-time Cy Younger award winner mentioned he hasn’t given any thought to what that will probably be like subsequent yr when the Rangers return to New York.
However deGrom mentioned he’s grateful for the chance he acquired with the group.
“I’m perpetually grateful to the Mets group,” deGrom mentioned. “They drafted me and I spent 9 years of my profession there so I undoubtedly loved my time there.”
