The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers may find themselves with two aces in the hole by the middle of the 2024 season. Pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are allegedly planning to return to the mound in summertime.
DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young champion, is returning from elbow surgery, while Scherzer is recuperating from a December procedure to repair a herniated disk in his lower back.
Both pitchers attended the Rangers’ annual FanFest and discussed their various schedules for returning to Texas’ lineup.
“When we get us back here, hopefully somewhere around the trade deadline, it’s like picking up a couple guys,” deGrom said in an interview with ESPN.
Scherzer said, “We won the World Series, so everything is fantastic. You must maintain a positive attitude toward this situation.”
The 39-year-old, who was acquired from the New York Mets at the 2023 trade deadline, was an important member of the Rangers’ rotation in the latter stretch of the season. Before missing the final two weeks of the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs due to a pulled muscle in his shoulder, Scherzer was 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in eight starts.
He was able to return and start twice in the American League Championship Series, but his shoulder ailment flared up again, and he only lasted three innings in Game 3 of World Series. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young champion, had surgery on Dec. 15.
Scherzer joined deGrom in the Texas rotation after he signed a five-year, $185 million contract last offseason. Due to an elbow ailment, he only made six starts and pitched 30⅓ innings with Texas before retiring. DeGrom finished 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 45 strikeouts.
The 35-year-old stated that he intends to begin throwing in the spring but must first complete a plyometric conditioning regimen. Scherzer claimed he’s doing well in his recuperation and made it through the six-week post-surgery period without any setbacks.
