The Toronto Blue Jays recently signed a future Hall of Fame pitcher on Thursday, expanding their starting rotation. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman announced the deal on Twitter/X. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that he received a one-year contract. According to ESPN’s Heyman and Jeff Passan, Scherzer will receive $15.5 million. According to a recent FanSided article by Robert Murray, Scherzer was the top pick on the Blue Jays’ offseason shopping list.
Max Scherzer, an eight-time All-Star, has built an illustrious career highlighted by two no-hitters and World Series championships with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023. Now, as he joins the Toronto Blue Jays, the pressing question is whether the 40-year-old right-hander can return to his dominant form after a challenging, injury-plagued 2024 season.
Last year, Scherzer managed just nine starts for the Rangers, finishing with a 2-4 record and a 3.95 ERA. His season was disrupted from the outset, as he began the year on the injured list while recovering from back surgery. He made his return in June but was sidelined again in August due to right shoulder fatigue. Ultimately, his season ended prematurely when a left hamstring strain forced him back to the injured list.
One of the biggest concerns heading into 2025 is Scherzer’s declining velocity. His average fastball clocked in at 92.5 mph last season, a significant drop from his peak, when he regularly hit 95 mph as recently as 2020. However, despite the dip in velocity, his repertoire remains impressive. Scherzer’s slider, changeup, and cutter were all still effective in limited action last season, giving Toronto hope that he can continue to succeed by relying on his deep arsenal and veteran experience.
The Blue Jays already feature one of the most seasoned starting rotations in baseball, with Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, and Chris Bassitt anchoring the staff. Additionally, right-hander Bowden Francis made a strong impression in the second half of 2024 and is expected to secure a spot in the rotation for the upcoming season.
Scherzer’s arrival comes at a time when Toronto is looking to rebound from a disappointing 74-88 finish that saw them land fifth in the American League East. The team’s offseason had been marked by more failures than successes before this move. In November, they lost out on superstar free agent Juan Soto, who secured a historic $765 million contract with the New York Mets. A month later, they fell short again in their pursuit of outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto’s misfortunes continued into the new year when they were unable to match the Dodgers’ offer for Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki. More recently, reports surfaced that the Jays had fumbled negotiations with free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, adding to their list of offseason disappointments. However, they did manage to make a notable addition to their lineup by acquiring switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander.
Despite previous setbacks, Toronto remains interested in Alonso should he decide not to re-sign with the Mets. Meanwhile, Scherzer joins a rotation in which his former Mets teammate Justin Verlander also signed a comparable one-year, $15 million deal—though Verlander landed with the San Francisco Giants earlier this month.
With Scherzer now in the fold, the Blue Jays hope their rotation can provide stability and help the team turn the page on a frustrating 2024 campaign. Whether Scherzer can overcome last season’s injury struggles and return to form will be a key factor in Toronto’s ability to compete in a tough AL East division.
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