Max Scherzer won’t accept a trade deadline deal to Mets

The Mets, searching far and wide for upgrades to their pitching staff, are proceeding as though they won’t land Max Scherzer, an industry source told The Post on Tuesday.

What already looked like a long shot has turned into more of a Hail Mary, as the Nationals have notified the Mets that Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who can be a free agent this winter, didn’t want to play for them, as first reported by SNY. Multiple sources indicate that the 37-year-old, who as a 10-and-5 player (10 years in the major leagues, five or more years with his current club) can fully control his destiny, would prefer to join one of the National League’s West Coast teams, particularly the Dodgers or Padres, by Friday afternoon’s trade deadline. Even if Scherzer expressed more of an openness to joining the Mets, the Nats themselves were not keen on aiding their National League East rival, a second source said, nor did they see a fit with the Yankees on trade chips.