Q&A: Max Scherzer says MLB's integrity is at heart of CBA negotiations

Dec. 1 was an unusual day for Max Scherzer.

That afternoon, he was introduced as the newest member of the New York Mets in a video news conference that included Mets owner Steve Cohen. Cohen chose to commit $130 million over three years to Scherzer, who finished the 2021 season with the Dodgers. The deal set the record for highest average annual value in Major League Baseball history.

Scherzer spoke highly of Cohen. The future Hall of Famer glowed about the billionaire's willingness to spend money on players to win a World Series. It was a time to celebrate. The good vibes were predictably short-lived.

Hours later, MLB owners locked out their players because, essentially, Scherzer and his peers believe more owners need to take a page from Cohen's operations manual.

Scherzer was in Dallas for the conference call as part of the players association's eight-player executive subcommittee along with Andrew Miller, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Zack Britton, James Paxton, Jason Castro