Where will the best starting pitchers land?

Max Scherzer. Clayton Kershaw. Kevin Gausman. There’s no shortage of pitching talent available in 2021-22 MLB free agency, and championships will be made or broken based on what moves are taken. Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers, Bradford Doolittle and Alden Gonzalez are here to break down what’s at stake in the starting pitching market this offseason.

Which one free-agent starting pitcher would you most want on the mound for your team on Opening Day 2022?

Olney: If we’re going to separate this question from the issue of financial commitment and value over the duration of the contract, I don’t know how you can pick anyone other than future Hall of Famer Scherzer. He dominated for the Nationals last summer, and then he did the same for the Dodgers, even closing out the Giants in the division series. But I hope there is an understanding between Max and his next team: No more short relief stints in the postseason. Please.

Rogers: It’s hard to go against Scherzer, especially if under the assumption that we only care about 2022. He’s got at least one dominant year left. However, Robbie Ray was in a class all by himself among lefties. None of his numbers scream fluke — unless he loses his command and returns to the old Ray. If I had any hint that Scherzer was slowing down, Ray would be my guy. Then again, I wouldn’t bet against Justin Verlander to win comeback player of the year. Tough call but Scherzer is money in the bank right now.

Doolittle: If by “opening day” we actually mean “Game 1 of a postseason series” then it’s Scherzer, not because the answer would be different, but because that’s what teams signing an elite free agent starter have in mind. While Scherzer petered out after the Dodgers-Giants series, he was as dominant as ever over the closing weeks of the season. If I’m looking at a starting pitcher as a finishing piece for a championship team, that’s who I want from this group of free-agent pitchers.

Gonzalez: Scherzer’s first nine starts with the Dodgers (all…