Mets GM denies team's rebuilding as Max Scherzer trade to Rangers becomes official

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The Texas Rangers and New York Mets officially completed the Max Scherzer trade on Sunday.

The Rangers acquired the three-time Cy Young Award winner and cash considerations in exchange for utility man Luisangel Acuna. Both teams announced the deal after it was initially reported Saturday night.

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Max Scherzer of the New York Mets looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during their game at Citi Field in New York City. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

While the move is head-scratching on paper as the Mets entered Sunday seven games out of the final wild-card spot in the National League with many games left to play, New York general manager Billy Eppler denied the organization was rebuilding.

"Given the place we're in and the odds we're facing, it was a strategic decision, and we kind of took this opportunity to kind of serve another goal of the organization, which is to enhance the farm system," Eppler said before Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals, per SNY.

"But I do want to be clear that it's not a rebuild, it's not a fire sale, it's not a liquidation. This is just a repurposing of [owner Steve Cohen's] investment in the club and kind of shifting that investment from the team into the organization."

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler during a spring training workout on Feb. 18, 2023, in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

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Acuna was among the best prospects in the Rangers’ system. He was hitting .315 with seven home