The Nationals yesterday officially introduced P Max Scherzer after he agreed to a $210M deal with the club earlier this week, and it was Nationals Managing Principal Owner Ted Lerner who "had to decide whether signing a pitcher for seven years was a wise move," according to Barry Svrluga of the WASHINGTON POST. Lerner said, "You don't have the opportunity to sign this type of pitcher very often." Svrluga notes 10 years after the Nationals moved to DC, fans are "only now getting a real handle" on how Lerner impacts the team's day-to-day operations, but there is "no string he can't and won't pull." Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner said of his father, "Obviously, when you’re 89 years old, you want to win. He’s not saying that. But he’s always wanted to win. And he was pretty passionate about getting Max.” Nationals GM & President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo said of Ted Lerner, "He appreciates and respects independent thought." Mark Lerner added, "He’s always stressed patience, and he’s been incredible, more patient than me or anybody else. Stay the course. Do it the right way. That’s enticing out there, but don’t ... He’s been a rock. He really has" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/22). In DC, Tom Schad notes Rizzo, agent Scott Boras and Ted Lerner "worked together to construct the contract, which includes a large deferral and a record $50M signing bonus. The Nationals "knew that the true value of Scherzer’s contract would deteriorate over time due to inflation." Boras knew that Scherzer "could skirt some of Washington’s income taxes and save some money by establishing residency in Florida" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/22). Also in DC, Thom Loverro writes Boras, who has negotiated deals for Nationals P Steven Strasburg, RF Jayson Werth, LF Bryce Harper and 2B Anthony Rendon, has "become the pope of Washington baseball." The "miracle in this is Boras convincing the Lerner family" to raise the '15 payroll to more than $160M. Loverro: "No one pushes Rizzo around. He has one of the toughest reputations in the game" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/22).
INFLATE GATE: In N.Y., Neil Irwin notes Scherzer's contract "offers a fascinating insight into inflation and expectations for future inflation." The issues that Scherzer and the Nationals "probably considered in negotiating the deal go to the core of decisions the Federal Reserve and other central banks must make in doing their jobs." The difference is "real money even for a family as wealthy as the Lerners." In effect, the Lerners have "made an implicit bet that inflation will be high over the coming decade and a half, where Scherzer has an implicit bet on low inflation or even deflation" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/22).
