Scherzer rips free agency: Lack of competitive teams 'poisons the game'

Add Max Scherzer to the growing list of players concerned with the state of free agency.

When asked about the free-agent logjam which currently sees Bryce Harper and Manny Machado unsigned with spring training underway, the Washington Nationals ace didn't hold back.

"When there's too many teams that are not trying to win, that poisons the game, poisons the fan experience, and it creates bandwagon fans," Scherzer said, according to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic.

Following Tuesday's comments from players' union executive director Tony Clark regarding inaccurate reports of contract offers to Machado, Scherzer voiced concern over teams using the press to shift negotiations in their favor, questioning whether that should be considered tampering.

"Teams go to media and say they don't want you," Scherzer said, according to Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post. " ... (To kill interest) they discuss not wanting players. We know every intention of every team. Other leagues don't allow that. (Wouldn't it be) tampering? It should not be happening. Why is this exclusive to MLB?"

Scherzer's opinions on free agency are similar to the perspectives of fellow players Pat Neshek, Jeff Samardzija, and Justin Verlander.

After Verlander tweeted Monday to voice his dissatisfaction with a stagnant free-agent market, calling the system "broken," Neshek said he believes the players signed a "bad" collective bargaining agreement.

Samardzija even suggested a players' strike might be the only way to fix a slow market.