There wasn’t much talk about the community Max Scherzer this winter, despite a report earlier this month that four unknown clubs were showing interest in the future Hall-of-Famer’s services. The Blue Jays may have been one of those mysterious four teams, but Toronto is showing interest in Scherzer now, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
The Jays have been linked to a number of free agents this winter, continuing the informal “check everyone” strategy that general manager Ross Atkins has used extensively over the past five years, since the team’s rebuilding phase ended with the signing of Hyun-Jin Ryu. four-year, $80MM contract. So it’s no surprise that the Blue Jays also have Scherzer on their radar, both because Toronto is looking for rotation help and because Scherzer has some interesting upside given his long resume.
2024 was perhaps the most unremarkable of Scherzer’s 17 MLB seasons, as he pitched a career-low 43 1/3 innings. Scherzer underwent back surgery last season and was expected to miss at least some time early in the 2024 campaign while he recuperated, but subsequent issues with nerve irritation in his triceps, shoulder fatigue, and muscle stiffness have led to that being too soon. in a losing season for both Scherzer and the Rangers as a whole.
At least the nerve problem seems to have been fixed by the equipment change, as Scherzer told reporters last September, and Scherzer is now more than a year removed from his back procedure. Although the right-hander tends to last longer in his long career, it wouldn’t be a surprise if 2878 major league innings finally caught up to Scherzer as he passed the age of 40.
Even so, Scherzer was still able to post a respectable 3.95 ERA last season. His walk and strikeout rates were both good in his small sample size of 43 1/3 frames, though that strikeout rate reflected a 22.6% average strikeout rate. Scherzer also had a 3.77 ERA over 152 2/3 innings with the Mets and Rangers in 2023, which would be a better picture of what can be expected from a healthy Scherzer in this final phase of his career — a solid rotation starter. who can still dial up some of his old magic every once in a while.
Scherzer and his former partner Justin Verlander they’ve often been linked this winter as veterans come off injury-plagued seasons, and Verlander (entering his age-42 campaign) inked a one-year, $15MM commitment with the Giants two weeks ago. With Verlander now off the board, more teams may be looking at Scherzer, even if Toronto is the first club to be publicly mentioned as a suitor.
When the Blue Jays signed relievers Jeff Hoffman again I’m Garcia in multi-year deals this winter, the last two seasons for the Jays have been defined more by the players the team didn’t sign than the players they signed. Toronto’s high profile pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Corbin Burns, Roki Sasakiand several other top free agents have concluded that those players have all signed elsewhere, creating the impression that the Jays’ front office will no longer be able to close a deal on top talent.
It didn’t help Atkins’ recruiting efforts that the Blue Jays stumbled to a 74-88 record last season, and finished in last place in the AL East. The possible departure of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. again Bo Bichette in free agency next winter add uncertainty about the Jays’ long-term viability as a contender, or even if the team still has enough in the tank to sign again in 2025. “As currently constructed, the Blue Jays may be able to trade” Scherzer, Nicholson-Smith writes, noting that even though Scherzer’s market may be limited by his age and recent injuries, he still wants to play. to a competing team if he has options available.
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