Max Scherzer's gift for Brayan Peña may have been late, but it was worth the wait.
The 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner bought a Rolex watch for Peña, who caught 71 games that year for the Tigers. While splitting duties with Alex Avila, Peña helped Scherzer achieve the best year of his career -- a 21-3 record with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts.
Peña, who is now on the Cincinnati Reds, tweeted this photo of his new timepiece:
My first ROLEX EVER an appreciation gift from CY Young winner 2013 & good friend Max Scherzer!! pic.twitter.com/2vUo2njEra
— Brayan Pena (@cuban2727) October 27, 2014
Spoke to Brayan Pena today about the Rolex he received from Max Scherzer: "One of the best gifts I've ever had." @Tigers
— George Sipple (@GeorgeSipple) October 27, 2014
Perhaps Scherzer was waiting for his contract to end before he sent out his gifts. Scherzer pitched last season on a one-year deal with $15.5 million. Scherzer, now a free agent, apparently rejected a contract extension earlier this year worth around $24 million per year. Assuming he inks a contract worth that much or more, he should be able to buy plenty more watches for his future teammates.
Scherzer isn't the first pitcher in recent years to buy a watch for a teammate after an impressive performance. Felix Hernandez purchased a Rolex for his catcher, John Jaso, after Jaso caught his perfect game in 2012. Roy Halladay in 2010 went above and beyond that, buying 60 Baume & Mercier following his perfect game. Halladay gifted a timepiece to all of his teammates, the entire coaching staff, all clubhouse personnel, the bat boy, training and video staff and public relations officials.
