On January 21, 2015, Scherzer agreed to a contract with the Washington Nationals, now led by Rizzo as general manager.
 The contract was for seven years and $210 million ($226.5 million today), and included a $50 million signing bonus to be paid out over 14 years, the largest deferral in MLB history.
 At the time, Scherzer owned a 91–50 W–L with a 3.58 ERA in seven seasons with Arizona and Detroit.
On January 22, it was reported that the contract also specified for Scherzer's salary to be $10 million in 2015, and $15 million in each of the next three seasons.
 It then increases to $35 million a year in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the seasons in which his deferrals begin.
In addition, his contract includes several award incentives, as well as a no-trade clause.
On January 21, 2015, Scherzer agreed to a contract with the Washington Nationals, now led by Rizzo as general manager.  The contract was for seven years and $210 million ($226.5 million today), and included a $50 million signing bonus to be paid out over 14 years, the largest deferral in MLB history.  At the time, Scherzer owned a 91–50 W–L with a 3.58 ERA in seven seasons with Arizona and Detroit. On January 22, it was reported that the contract also specified for Scherzer's salary to be $10 million in 2015, and $15 million in each of the next three seasons.  It then increases to $35 million a year in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the seasons in which his deferrals begin. In addition, his contract includes several award incentives, as well as a no-trade clause.
Max Scherzer