Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer is set to return to the Toronto Blue Jays after agreeing to a one-year, US$3 million contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The deal is pending a successful physical and has not yet been officially announced.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner can earn up to an additional $10 million in performance bonuses. At 41, Scherzer brings experience and leadership back to the reigning American League champions as spring training continues.
Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA across 17 starts and 85 innings last season in his first year with Toronto. He later made three postseason starts, including a key win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. He also started twice in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In Game 7 of the World Series, Scherzer delivered 4 1/3 innings of one-run baseball before leaving to a standing ovation from fans at Rogers Centre. Despite his effort, the Blue Jays fell 5-4 in 11 innings.
Scherzer originally signed a $15.5 million one-year contract with Toronto in February 2025 and became a free agent again this winter. His return strengthens a rotation expected to include Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, José Berríos and Eric Lauer.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Scherzer’s influence on and off the field, noting his willingness to challenge teammates and share lessons from his long career.
“He’s not afraid to push the envelope. He’s not afraid to be curious. He’s not afraid to share things that he’s been through,” Schneider said last season.
Scherzer is a two-time World Series champion, winning titles with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023. The eight-time All-Star owns a career record of 221-117 with a 3.22 ERA while pitching for the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Rangers and Blue Jays.
He currently ranks 11th on Major League Baseball’s all-time strikeouts list with 3,489, just 20 shy of Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.
