The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals on Friday.
The Nationals receive catcher Keibert Ruiz, outfielder Donovan Casey and right-handers Josiah Gray and Gerardo Carrillo.
Scherzer and Turner helped the Nationals capture the franchise’s first World Series title two years ago. They join a Dodgers team trying to make a push for a second straight championship. Los Angeles (62-42) entered Friday’s play three games behind the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants.
“Today is heart wrenching as we say goodbye to two of the most accomplished players and two of the best people in our team’s history,” Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner said in a statement. “On behalf of my family and the entire Washington Nationals organization, I want to thank Max and Trea for their invaluable contributions both on the field and in the community, where each have been selfless with their time and resources over the years.”
Scherzer, 37, is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts this season, with 147 strikeouts in 111 innings. The right-hander has a career mark of 183-97 with a 3.19 ERA and 2,931 strikeouts in 396 games (387 starts) in Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14) and Washington.
Scherzer made the All-Star team for the eighth time in nine years in 2021. He won the American League Cy Young Award with the Tigers in 2013 and the NL Cy Young with the Nationals in 2016 and 2017.
Turner, 28, made his first All-Star team this season and is hitting .322 with 18 homers, 49 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 96 games. He is currently on the COVID-19 injured list.
Turner has played his entire seven-year career in the nation’s capital, batting an even .300 with 93 homers, 306 RBIs and 192 steals in 637 games.
Ruiz, 23, batted .143 (1-for-7) with a solo homer in six games this season with the Dodgers. He is the top prospect in the L.A. farm system and the No. 16 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America.
Casey, 25, has not reached the majors and is batting .296 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs in 73 games at Double-A Tulsa.
Gray, 23, made his MLB debut on July 20 and has a 6.75 ERA in two appearances (one start) with 13 strikeouts in eight innings.
Carrillo, 22, is 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) this season at Tulsa.
