ARLINGTON, Texas — Two familiar faces and aces were present to greet the Mets during pregame workouts Monday at Globe Life Field.
Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are on the injured list and have barely pitched for the Rangers since their respective departures from the Mets, but both are looking toward the summer ahead.
Scherzer, who is dealing with a nerve issue that manifested in his thumb, is likely closer to a return, with it possible the three-time Cy Young award winner will join the Rangers’ rotation next weekend for his season debut.
The right-hander underwent back surgery last winter that initially sidelined him to start the season.
DeGrom is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and likely won’t pitch for the club before August.
Both pitchers said they still keep in touch with former Mets teammates.
“There’s definitely some great guys in that clubhouse,” Scherzer said, referring to the Mets. “I definitely keep tabs on how they are doing and how they are playing.”
Scherzer waived his no-trade clause last July after he was told in a conversation with team brass that the Mets’ focus was on 2025 and beyond.
Scherzer agreed to exercise his $43.3 million option for this season as part of that deal, with the Mets picking up half. In return, the Mets received a top prospect from the Rangers in Luisangel Acuña.
“It was a baseball decision, everything that went down — decisions had to be made,” Scherzer said. “It was unfortunate I was in that position, but everybody had to make a baseball decision on all sides and for me it worked out well.”
But Scherzer wouldn’t say if this Mets season — the team entered play 33-37 and fourth in the NL East — has unfolded as he expected it might following his conversation at the trade deadline last year with owner Steve Cohen.
“That’s not for me to discuss,” Scherzer said. “I’m a Texas Ranger. Whatever happens is just what goes on with the Mets organization. Steve is obviously running a great ship. I really enjoyed playing for him. He’s got the sights on how he wants to win a championship.”
Scherzer pitched to a 3.20 ERA in eight starts for the Rangers following last season’s trade.
He missed most of the postseason with back discomfort, but returned to pitch three scoreless innings in Game 3 of the World Series against the Diamondbacks.
Before the week was over he was hoisting the World Series trophy in the winner’s clubhouse.
The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer said he would like to pitch beyond this season.
“My heart’s in it, yeah,” Scherzer said. “I definitely want to. I came into this year wanting to pitch next year. I didn’t come into this year thinking it was my last year.”
DeGrom left the Mets for a five-year deal worth $185 million from the Rangers after the 2022 season.
But the right-hander started only six games for his new club before undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. On Monday he threw from a mound for the first time since his surgery.
“I have been through this before so I kind of knew what to expect,” said deGrom, who tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly after he was drafted by the Mets. “The main thing is being smart and not trying to do too much. We have been sticking to the program, everything has been going good and we want to keep it that way.”
DeGrom didn’t travel with the Rangers last season to Citi Field in what would have been a homecoming.
The two-time Cy Young award winner said he hasn’t given any thought to what that will be like next year when the Rangers return to New York.
But deGrom said he’s grateful for the opportunity he received with the organization.
“I am forever thankful to the Mets organization,” deGrom said. “They drafted me and I spent nine years of my career there so I definitely enjoyed my time there.”
