Max Scherzer has made headlines by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $15.5 million with the Toronto Blue Jays, a deal reported on Thursday by a source familiar with the arrangements. This announcement comes with the stipulation that the agreement is still pending a physical examination, and the source chose to remain anonymous until the official statement is made.
At 40 years old, Scherzer’s recent performance has raised some eyebrows. Last season with the Texas Rangers, his time on the mound was notably cut short; he managed only nine starts, finishing with a 2-4 record and a 3.95 earned run average (ERA). Scherzer started the previous season on the injured list as he recuperated from lower back surgery. As the season progressed, he faced additional challenges, spending weeks on the injured list due to shoulder fatigue from early August to mid-September, followed by a hamstring strain that sidelined him for the end of the season.
Despite these setbacks, the Blue Jays are banking on Scherzer’s experience and skill to bolster their starting rotation, which already features notable pitchers like Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, and Chris Bassitt. Additionally, the team boasts promising talent such as Bowden Francis, who enjoyed a solid rookie year, and Yariel Rodríguez, who inked a substantial five-year, $32 million deal last winter.
Looking at the bigger picture, the Blue Jays had a challenging 2024 season, finishing at the bottom of the American League East with a disappointing record of 74-88. Their playoff woes have been a point of contention, as they have not secured a playoff victory since being eliminated by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2016 American League Championship Series. The team has faced early exits in the wild-card round during the 2020, 2022, and 2023 seasons, establishing a pressing need for a turnaround.
Scherzer’s signing comes on the heels of another significant acquisition for the Blue Jays. On January 20, they finalized a five-year deal worth $92.5 million with outfielder Anthony Santander, showcasing Toronto’s ambition to revamp their roster and competitiveness in the league. Earlier attempts to attract high-profile players like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto signified the franchise’s intent to make a serious push towards contention. They were also engaged in the bidding for the talented Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, although he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Max Scherzer’s journey in Major League Baseball saw him become a free agent following the completion of a lucrative $130 million, three-year contract he had with the New York Mets. Initially signed by New York in November 2021, Scherzer was traded to the Texas Rangers in July 2023, where he experienced a triumphant season, helping secure a World Series title in his first year with the team. This marked Scherzer’s second championship, having previously led the Washington Nationals to victory in 2019.
Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2006 amateur draft from the University of Missouri, Scherzer made his major league debut in 2008. His career saw a meteoric rise, culminating in multiple accolades, including his first Cy Young Award in 2013 when he recorded an impressive 21-3 record with a 2.90 ERA over 32 starts while playing for the Detroit Tigers. Scherzer followed that success by winning the NL Cy Young Awards consecutively in 2016 and 2017 during his tenure with Washington.
Throughout his storied career spanning 17 seasons, Scherzer maintains an impressive record of 216 wins and 112 losses, accompanied by a 3.16 ERA across 466 games, including 457 starts. His dominance on the mound is further underscored by his 3,407 strikeouts over 2,878 innings of play. As one of the premier pitchers in the league, Scherzer ranks second among active pitchers in key statistics such as strikeouts, wins, and innings pitched, with former teammate Justin Verlander leading those categories.
