TORONTO — While nothing is finalized, the Toronto Blue Jays‘ talks with Max Scherzer have gotten more serious in the last week, industry sources told Sportsnet.
Scherzer, the 41-year-old winner of three Cy Young Awards, is a free agent with other potential suitors still in the mix for his services. But the Blue Jays now appear to be his most serious pursuer as recent talks about a potential reunion have taken place.
Whether an agreement can be completed remains to be seen, but the sides have been discussing a one-year deal that would deepen the Blue Jays’ pitching staff while also bringing back a competitor whose intensity helped set the tone within the clubhouse for the 2025 team that reached the World Series.
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A reunion with Scherzer would add to the team’s starting pitching depth chart, a group that now features Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, Cody Ponce and Eric Lauer. There’s also Shane Bieber, who’s expected to begin the season on the injured list.
But in the scenario that the Blue Jays did sign Scherzer, the team would likely be very patient with him. One possibility would have him ramp up gradually with a view toward being ready in late April or May.
Scherzer started 17 regular-season games for the Blue Jays in 2025 plus three more in the playoffs. In the regular season, he posted a 5.19 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 85 innings, but he did some of his best work in October.
He pitched into the sixth inning in Game 4 of the ALCS, memorably yelling at manager John Schneider on the way to a 5.2 inning performance in which he allowed just two earned runs. He also started two World Series games, including a Game 7 start that saw him allow one run in 4.1 innings.
