Detroit Tigers’ Max Scherzer wins AL Cy Young Award

Max Scherzer, the only 20-game winner in the major leagues this season, was announced Wednesday as the winner of the American League Cy Young Award.

Scherzer went 21-3 with a 2.90 earned-run average for the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers. He collected 28 of 30 first-place votes.

Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers finished second, with Hisashi Iwakuma of the Seattle Mariners third.

Scherzer was the eighth pitcher selected in the first round of the 2006 draft, behind fellow Cy Young winners Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum. The first five pitchers drafted, in order: Luke Hochevar, Greg Reynolds, Brad Lincoln, Brandon Morrow, and Andrew Miller.

Scherzer, 29, led the AL in winning percentage and WHIP (walks and hits per inning) and ranked among the top five in ERA, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He also held opponents to a .254 on-base percentage and .583 OPS, the best of any AL starter.

Although postseason play did not count in the voting – ballots were due at the end of the regular season – Scherzer posted a 2.82 ERA in four playoff apperances, with 34 strikeouts in 22-1/3 innings. He – not 2011 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – started Game 1 of the playoffs for the Tigers.

Nonetheless, Scherzer’s name has popped up in trade talks at this week’s meeting of general managers.

The Tigers are believed to be concerned about how much it might cost to retain Scherzer beyond next season, when he would be eligible for free agency. Scott Boras, the agent for Scherzer, generally prefers that his clients test the market rather than sign an extension that would take them out of free agency.

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