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3 Scrooge moves the Dodgers made that killed fans’ Christmas spirit

By Thomas Carannante

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out LaMonte Wade Jr. #31 of the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning in game 3 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out LaMonte Wade Jr. #31 of the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning in game 3 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Max Scherzer of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Max Scherzer of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

1. Letting Max Scherzer Walk to the Mets

So the Dodgers didn’t want to do the long 10-year commitment. Fine. So why not the beefy short-term commitment … for a starting pitcher when there was no greater need than starting pitching?

Max Scherzer, who dazzled in his second half of 2021 with the Dodgers, signed a three-year, $130 million contract ($43.33 million AAV) with the New York Mets. One year ago, the Dodgers out-bid the Mets (and themselves?) for Trevor Bauer and signed him to a three-year contract for just $28 million fewer dollars. They were willing to pay just $28 million fewer dollars to an internet troll and pitcher with a 4.00 ERA instead of a three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer.

The worst part? The Dodgers didn’t have a need for such a move last offseason, when their rotation was stacked with a healthy Kershaw, Buehler, Urías, May and a combination of Tony Gonsolin/David Price/spot starters. The world has seen much worse than that.

Now, the Dodgers don’t have Kershaw (and he isn’t healthy), May is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Gonsolin is a giant question mark, we’re not sure what Price offers, and Bauer likely won’t be pitching for the Dodgers again. And that still wasn’t enough for the Dodgers to match the Mets’ offer, apparently.

Scherzer, Buehler and Urías (and even Heaney as the No. 5) makes this a much more respectable rotation and greatly alleviates the post-lockout burden/need to scramble. Instead, we’re wondering who the Dodgers might trade for or if they’ll take a flyer on Carlos Rodón, who presents another injury issue.

The chatter around the Dodgers would’ve been a lot different had Scherzer been retained. Now, the Mets are the talk of the lockout offseason and Dodgers fans don’t have any new jerseys to get this Christmas.

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