Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer will be sidelined until midseason after undergoing surgery for a herniated disk on Thursday, according to the team.
Scherzer, 39, missed time at the end of 2023 with a triceps issue, making three postseason appearances after he missed the final couple weeks of the regular season. He’s due $43 million in 2024 in the final year of a three-year, $130 million contract he signed with the New York Mets before the 2022 season.
Scherzer joins Jacob deGrom and newly acquired righty Tyler Mahle on the injured list to begin 2024. DeGrom and Mahle are recovering from Tommy John surgery; both could return mid to late summer — along with Scherzer.
The Rangers rotation is now led by righties Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray with Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning in the back end of the rotation.
Scherzer was acquired midseason from the Mets for infielder Luisangel Acuna and $20 million cash. He’s 214-108 in his career with a 3.15 ERA.