Max Scherzer Net Worth 2025: 38-Year-Old Pitcher Holds Most Expensive MLB Contract

Ever heard of a Max Scherzer curve ball? Here’s a read on what makes the current Max Scherzer net worth so very well-deserved.

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer is getting on in years. Like the current highest-paid NFL star, Aaron Rodgers, he will hit 40 in two years.

Professional athletes look to retire by 30, considering the extreme wear and tear that a pitcher goes through every season. They usually peak in their mid to late 20s until their early 30s. The reason for this is the fast decline in their physical ability to keep up with the sport.

But as one of the best pitchers in the league, Scherzer knows how to throw a curve ball. Not just on the field but throughout his stereotype-breaking career, proving that it’s not the age or skills that are important but the drive, hard work, and persistence in becoming a success.

The three-time Cy Young awardee led the number of recorded wins and strikeouts more than any pitcher throughout the 2010s. Max pitched his 3,000th strike out on September 12th, 2021. It was largely thanks to “Mad Max” that the Detroit Tigers won four consecutive titles from the American League Central. It’s not surprising that he is the highest-paid MLB player at present.

Read more about Max Scherzer’s success story and how he beats the odds and emerged as one of the best baseball players in history.

Max Scherzer Net Worth

Max was a 31-year-old free agent when he signed a 7-year contract with Washington Nationals in 2015 worth $210 million. The years that followed had been exceptional for the club and the pitcher, but, though none will admit it now, everyone that mattered in Major League Baseball thought that signing Max Scherzer was a bad idea.

For a player supposedly past his prime, Max broke, set records, and hovered at the top of the list of the best pitchers in the American League. He led his team to victory in the World Series and received the CY Young award three times. Max has more than proven that he was worth the multi-million dollar contract.

Near the end of his contract in 2021, Mad Max signed a 3-year contract with the New York Mets for $130 million. His annual average value of $43.3 million makes him the highest-paid MLB player.

His previous contracts contributed greatly to Max Scherzer net worth of $120 million.

Max Scherzer – Short Bio

Maxwell Martin Scherzer was born on July 27th, 1984. He is a native of Chesterfield, Missouri, and grew up a die-hard fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Max’s love for baseball led him to join his high school team.

As a teen, the 3–time Cy Young winner lacked baseball talent, but he compensated for his shortcomings with hard work and passion.

In 2003, Max was already being drafted into the MLB by the Cardinals. It seemed he wasn’t ready at the time because Max declined and opted to continue his education.

He attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, home of the Missouri Tigers baseball team. Max received the basic coaching he needed to have better balance and control with his throws. There was a time during his first year when he voluntarily refrained from pitching for about a month and a half.

He wasn’t afraid to take a step back and dedicate weeks of his time to more basic workouts. Max learned to pitch more efficiently with better velocity, balance, and control.

Max’s training and patience bore fruit, especially during his second year. He was chosen for the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Award in 2005. In the over 16 games during his sophomore year, Max led the pack with 1.86a earned run average (ERA) and 131 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched.

Seven years later, on January 9, 2012, Max Scherzer was named one of six inductees of the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

Max Scherzer – Professional Career

Debut with the Diamondbacks

Max’s professional career began with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The club chose him as their 11th overall pick during the 2006 MLB Draft. He signed a $4.3 million contract with the Diamondbacks after completing three games with the Fort Worth Cats.

In 2007, Max Scherzer started playing in the minor league with Single-A Visalia Oaks, then was soon promoted to Double-A Mobile BayBears for being an exceptional starting pitcher.

Come 2008, during the offseason. Max was on the shortlist of prospects to join the Diamondbacks in the majors. On April 27, Max was summoned by the team after completing a great start for Triple-A Tucson.

A Sneak Peak of the Big League

Mad Max’s first experience in the major leagues was against the Houston Astros on April 29, 2008. His big debut was as a relief pitcher, but he struck out seven people at one go, starting with batter Jack Cassel. In his first MLB appearance, Max retired a total of 13 players.

Max broke the record set in 1962 for the number of consecutive batters retired, which was 12.

He was immediately put in starting rotation after his explosive debut, but the club was unable to draw out more from Mad Max. His first appearance as a starter ended up becoming his first major league career loss. He returned to the minors for most of 2008.

2009 was a little bit better. Max experienced his first major league victory in a 12-0 win against the Atlanta Braves. Still, at the end of the year, Max Scherzer was traded to the Detroit Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers

Unfortunately, the Diamondbacks could not nurture Max’s talent and simply opted to trade him and move on to the next best prospect. Traded along with a bulk of other players, his reassignment to the Tigers was a blessing. The new environment allowed Max to evolve into a true professional baseball player.

Max was set up in starting rotation with fellow right-hander Justin Verlander for five seasons. His improvement showed as the team went on victorious streaks. Max was a major contributor to the team, winning four AL Central championships and the 2012 American League pennant.

Cy Young Award

Scherzer went on a steady rise in 2013. He surpassed an unbeaten franchise record since 1909 for the most starts by a pitcher in a season with a 12-0 streak. He was able to up the record to 13-0 with the July 2nd victory against the Toronto Blue Jays, then becoming the first in major league history to accomplish such a feat.

Though Texas Rangers thwarted Max’s fourteenth run, the bar was already set high enough that it should stick for at least another decade or so.

Mad Max hurled his 1,000th strikeout against Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians on August 1st. He reached another important milestone and set another baseball record by becoming the first major league pitcher to reach 20 wins. The regular season concluded with Max leading with 0.97 WHIP, 2.90 ERA, and a career-high 240 strikeouts.

From his stellar performance to his exemplary stats, Max Scherzer received his first AL Cy Young award, finally gaining the recognition he needed and deserved.

On January 17, the following year, the Detroit Tigers approved Max Scherzer’s $15.5 million salary for 2014. And in his final season with the team that helped him break out of his rookie shell, Max Scherzer gave his best. He made sure that the Tigers got their penny’s worth.

He put a stop to the Houston Astros by striking out nine of their batters, resulting in a 2-0 victory. Though the Tigers lost their next game to the Minnesota Twins, Mad Max didn’t make it easy for them by taking out six of their batters. He would come back with a vengeance in the next game.

Then on June 12th, Max conquered two career feats with his first complete game and shutout against the Chicago White Sox. The game concluded with a 4-0 win for the Tigers.

Max pitched a scoreless fifth inning against Troy Tulowitzki and struck out Yasiel Puig and Paul Goldschmidt during the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. He, of course, earned the win for the AL.

Singing with Washington Nationals

Max Scherzer was at the top of his game when he signed with the Washington Nationals, but many still tilted their heads because of his age and assumed that the pitcher had reached the peak of what he could do. In short, many thought it would be downhill for Mad Max from that point on.

But those doubts began to waver more after he proved that he was still a beast on the pitcher’s plate. He delivered two no-hitters that very season. The first was against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 20th. Max struck out 26 of their batters, falling one batter short of a perfect game.

The second was against the New York Mets on October 3rd. Max took out 17 of their batters with no walk. The game versus the Mets is still one of the most debated and regarded as the greatest pitching performances of all time.

Max was ahead of all major league pitchers in first-strike percentage with 73.3%. He finished the season with a 2.79 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while striking 276 batters.

His victorious streak continued in 2016 and 2017, consecutively winning his second and third Cy Young Awards. Though Max had to be benched a number of times in 2017 due to injury, he still led the National League with 268 strikeouts.

He also won the Players Choice Award for National League Outstanding Pitcher. He was also elected to the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame with Mike Trout.

2019 National League Championship Series

Max started in the second game against the St. Louis Cardinals. His teammate and first-game pitcher, Anibal Sanchez, also came from the Tigers. The two benefitted from the same training and experience from their previous team.

The pair delivered no-hitters through the sixth inning to the same team in their respective matches during postseason games. The team’s combined effort secured a shot in the World Series, where they faced the Houston Astros and Max’s former rotation buddy, Justin Verlander.

Max started Game 1, which ended in a victory. Someone else had to take his place for Game 5 due to neck pain. Max came back for Game 7 for the decision-making match.

The Astros had an early lead with 1-0 from Yuli Gurriel in the second inning, then Carlos Correa extended it to 2-0 after hitting a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. The Astros could not get another score after Anthony Rendon smashed a home run and earned the first point for the Nationals.

The Washington Nationals were ahead 6-2 by the ninth inning with all bases loaded. The relief pitcher ended the game by striking Michael Bently and securing the team’s first World Series title.

2020 was considered a shortened period due to the pandemic, and 2021 was mildly eventful for the multi-awarded MLB superstar. His most notable moment during his final season with the Nationals was his first complete game against the New York Yankees.

He struck out nine of their batters and allowed no bases on balls. Max topped off the game by crossing another important milestone with the 100th double-digit strikeout of his career.

On July 30th, 2021, Max Scherzer was traded to the Lost Angeles Dodgers.

The New York Mets

Max was traded to the Dodgers and stayed with the team for the remaining time of the seven-year contract he struck with the Washington Nationals. It was just a stint of a few months, but regardless of how short, Max didn’t allow himself to fall short in a game.

Come December 1st, 2021. Max Scherzer signed a 3-year deal with the New York Mets for $130 million. His latest contract assures him an average of $43.3 million yearly, breaking the previous highest AAV or average annual value set by Gerrit Cole of the Yankees at $36 million.

Frequently Asked Questions – Max Scherzer Net Worth

How Much Is Max Scherzer Net Worth?

Max Scherzer net worth is estimated at $120 million. The most recent contract is a 3-year deal with the New York Mets worth $130 million. Much of his net worth came from his previous contract with the Washington Nationals, which was worth $210 million.

Who Is the Highest-Paid MLB Player?

The current highest-paid MLB player is Max Scherzer of the New York Mets. He signed a 3-year contract in December of 2021 worth $130 million. The deal assures him an annual average of $43.3 million.

How Much Does Max Scherzer Make per Game?

In the past 5 years, Mad Max has thrown a minimum of 3,268 pitches per season. If he receives $43.3 million with his current contract, Max will be paid more or less $13,000 for every pitch he hurls while playing for the New York Mets.

Final Thoughts – Max Scherzer Net Worth

Max Scherzer’s drive to prove everyone wrong is just as legendary as the thundering pitches he has thrown for most of his career. More than being stereotyped for his age, Max wanted to get his point across that skills can be learned and honed with diligence and hard work.

To become a superstar, you don’t have to be born with pure, raw talent.

Another commendable fact about Mad Max is how he knew when to walk away from the field. He walked out in the sixth inning of the game in a recent match against the Cardinals when he began feeling some discomfort on his left side. It scared millions of fans who watched him step off the plate but later offered an explanation for his sudden exit.

Fans, the media, and the American League bigshots will surely have their own opinions, but the simplest truth is that no one can put a price tag on anyone’s health and safety. Max stayed on top of the league for over a decade because he knew when exactly to push his body beyond its limits and when to take a rest–and fight for another day.

More than his age, his years in the league made Max Scherzer wise. He never forgot his rookie years and what it took to become the ace player he is today. He will probably let the world know when his time is up. But for now, we can still expect a few more surprises from the one and only Mad Max.