More of the Above

Yesterday proved tough on my daughter, who was going back to work and sending baby Leo off to daycare. I provided some diversion by answering a question she called with: What’s up with Matt Scherzer? By that, Clare meant why did the Mets sign the 37-year old right hander to a three-year deal for $130 million, complete with an opt out after season two? “Wasn’t he injured during the playoffs?” my little one asked. No, it was just arm fatigue that kept him from taking the mound in game six of the NLCS that saw his then-Dodgers’ team eliminated by Atlanta. But, hey, it ain’t my money, because if it were, I’d be spending it in different ways than the Mets. The New Yorkers might be better off rebuilding the Polo Grounds. Why not, if you’re going to sign a bunch of players north of 30? Free-agent signees Starling Marte, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar will all be 33 come Opening Day 2022. If Scherzer isn’t too fatigued to start (and if it isn’t too cold at Citi Field) to start March 31 against the Nats, that will give New York a starting lineup with at least four out of nine players heavy on the experience, you might say. Or old. Then again, the Rangers reportedly have signed shortstop Corey Seager to a ten-year deal; Seager will be 38 when his contract expires. He and Marcus Semien could be the All-AARP middle infield of the mid 2020s and beyond. You’d think there’d be an analytic or two that predicts decline.