Clayton Kershaw's seven-year, $215 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers could eventually benefit Max Scherzer.
Scherzer, who will turn 30 in July, is four years older than Kershaw and has one fewer Cy Young award.
"Yet as baseball has shown time and again over the years, it's not always about direct comparisons, but markets," writes Jason Beck.
"With Kershaw now signed, Scherzer and Boston's Jon Lester move to the top of the potential free-agent list. Unless Scherzer agrees to an extension with Detroit in the coming months, there's a decent chance he could enter next offseason as the top free agent available -- not just for pitchers, but possibly for any position."