spotrac Full Details

Max Scherzer

Texas Rangers, Starting Pitcher

2022-2024 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2022 37 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 18.84% $43,333,333 $43,333,333
2023 38
$43,333,333 - - - -
2024 39
Player
$12,500,000 $12,500,000 5.27% $12,500,000 $55,833,333
2025 40
UFA
Retained Salary
2023 38 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 18.60% $43,333,333 $86,666,666
2024 39 $30,833,333 $30,833,333 13.01% $30,833,333 $117,499,999
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2022 37 13.079 $43,333,333 - - $43,333,333 $43,333,333
2023 38 14.079
$43,333,333 - - $43,333,333 -
2024 39 15.079
Player
$43,333,334 - - $12,500,000 $12,500,000
2025 40 --
UFA
Retained Salary
2023 38 $43,333,333 - - $43,333,333 $43,333,333
2024 39 $30,833,333 - - $30,833,333 $30,833,333
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2022 37 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $18,611,111
2023 38
- - - - -
2024 39
Player
$12,500,000 $12,500,000 $55,833,333 $18,611,111 $12,500,000
Retained/Dead Cash
2023 38 - $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $86,666,666 $43,333,333 $74,166,666
2024 39 - $30,833,333 $30,833,333 $117,499,999 $37,083,333 -
Contract Notes
  • Opt-out available after 2023
  • Full no trade clause
  • MVP: $200,000
  • Cy Young: $200,000
  • World Series MVP: $150,000
  • LCS MVP: $100,000
  • All-Star: $100,000
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2006 21
Signing Bonus
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
2007 22
Active
$950,000
$3,950,000
2008 23
Active
$950,000
$4,900,000
2009 24
Active
$1,450,000
$6,350,000
2010 25
Active
$950,000
$7,300,000
2011 26
Active
$600,000
$7,900,000
2012 27
Active / Arb Avoided
$3,750,000
$11,650,000
2013 28
Active / Arb Avoided
$6,725,000
$18,375,000
 AL Cy Young
2014 29
Active / Arb Avoided
$15,525,000
$33,900,000
2015 30
Active
$15,175,000
$49,075,000
2016 31
Active
$15,100,000
$64,175,000
 NL Cy Young
2017 32
Active
$15,100,000
$79,275,000
 NL Cy Young
2018 33
Active
$15,100,000
$94,375,000
2019 34
Active
$15,100,000
$109,475,000
 Champion All MLB (1st)
2020 35
Active
$15,000,000
$124,475,000
2021 36
Retained
$15,100,000
$139,575,000
 All MLB (1st)
2022 37
Active
Deferred
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$182,908,333
$197,908,333
 All MLB (2nd)
2023 38
Retained
Deferred
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$241,241,666
$256,241,666
2024 39
Retained
Active / Player Exercised
Deferred
$30,833,333
$12,500,000
$15,000,000
$287,074,999
$299,574,999
$314,574,999
Total      
$314,574,999
$287,074,999
$299,574,999
$314,574,999
2025 40
Deferred
$15,000,000
2026 41
Deferred
$15,000,000
2027 42
Deferred
$15,000,000
2028 43
Deferred
$15,000,000
Total
$374,574,999
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2006
21
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
2007
22
$950,000
$950,000
$3,950,000
2008
23
$950,000
$950,000
$4,900,000
2009
24
$1,450,000
$1,450,000
$6,350,000
2010
25
$950,000
$950,000
$7,300,000
2011
26
$600,000
$600,000
$7,900,000
2012
27
$3,750,000
$3,750,000
$11,650,000
2013
28
$6,725,000
$6,725,000
$18,375,000
2014
29
$15,525,000
$15,525,000
$33,900,000
2015
30
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
$175,000
$15,175,000
$49,075,000
2016
31
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$64,175,000
2017
32
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$79,275,000
2018
33
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$94,375,000
2019
34
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$109,475,000
2020
35
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
$124,475,000
2021
36
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$139,575,000
2022
37
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$182,908,333
$197,908,333
2023
38
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$241,241,666
$256,241,666
2024
39
$30,833,333
$12,500,000
$15,000,000
$30,833,333
$12,500,000
$15,000,000
$287,074,999
$299,574,999
$314,574,999
Total
$260,899,999
$53,000,000
$675,000
$314,574,999
$287,074,999
$299,574,999
$314,574,999
2025
40
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
2026
41
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
2027
42
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
2028
43
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
Total
$320,899,999
$53,000,000
$675,000
$374,574,999

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
3 $1,900,000 $3,000,000 - $4,900,000
6 $29,000,000 - - $29,000,000
10 $100,000,000 $50,000,000 $675,000 $150,675,000
3 $117,499,999 - - $117,499,999
1 $12,500,000 - - $12,500,000
Cap Hit

$43,333,334 / 2nd

Cash Total

$30,833,333 / 14th

Contract Value

$130,000,000 / 43rd

Contract Average

$43,333,333 / 2nd

AAV% of Cap

18.84% / 2nd

Signing Bonus

$0 / 93rd

2-Year Cash

$74,166,666 / 2nd

3-Year Cash

$74,166,666 / 18th

Total Guaranteed

$130,000,000 / 43rd

Guaranteed at Signing

$0 / 1st

  • Jul 29, 2023 Exercised a $43.3M player option for 2024 with Texas (TEX)
  • Jul 29, 2023 Traded to Texas (TEX) from New York (NYM) for Luisangel Acuna
  • Apr 20, 2023 Suspended 10 games for a Uniform Violation (sticky substance)
  • Nov 29, 2021 Signed a 3 year $130 million contract with New York (NYM)
  • Jul 29, 2021 Traded to Los Angeles (LAD) from Washington (WSH) with Trea Turner for Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Gerardo Carrillo and Donovan Casey
  • Jan 19, 2015 Signed a 7 year $210 million contract with Washington (WAS)
  • Jan 17, 2014 Signed a 1 year $15.525 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Feb 04, 2013 Signed a 1 year $6.725 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Jan 17, 2012 Signed a 1 year $3.75 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Mar 09, 2011 Signed a 1 year $600k contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Dec 08, 2009 Traded to Detroit (DET) from Arizona (ARI) as part of a 3-team trade: New York (NYY) traded Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to Detroit (DET); Detroit (DET) traded Curtis Granderson to New York (NYY); Detroit (DET) traded Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy to Arizona (ARI); Arizona (ARI) traded Daniel Schlereth to Detroit (DET)
  • May 30, 2007 Signed a 4 year $4.3 million contract with Arizona (ARI)
  • Jun 06, 2006 Drafted by Arizona (ARI): Round 1 (#11 overall)
  • Jun 20, 2003 Signed a contract with Arizona (ARI)