If the Toronto Blue Jays can establish themselves as a strong contender for 2025, they might be able to entice free agent starting pitcher Max Scherzer to complete their rotation.
The Toronto Blue Jays have expressed significant interest in free agent starting pitcher , according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. However, Nicholson-Smith suggests that convincing Scherzer, a 40-year-old future Hall of Famer seeking to enhance his legacy, might be challenging. Still, if Toronto manages to acquire players like Anthony Santander or Pete Alonso, it could persuade Scherzer that the team is committed to contending in 2025.
Max Scherzer spent the last season and a half with the Texas Rangers, though injuries limited him to just 17 regular-season starts. Over the past three years, he earned $130 million, largely due to the record-setting contract he signed with the New York Mets in December 2021.
Spotrac estimates Scherzer’s current market value at $15.2 million for a one-year deal, while MLB Trade Rumors projected he would sign for one year and $16 million in November. Such a contract could be realistic for Scherzer, especially since Justin Verlander recently secured $15 million from the San Francisco Giants.
The Blue Jays have been actively pursuing starting pitching this offseason, missing out on Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, and more recently, Roki Sasaki. Although Toronto has a solid five-man rotation in place – featuring Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Bowden Francis, and Yariel Rodríguez – management appears set on moving Rodríguez to the bullpen.
Adding Scherzer would certainly bolster the rotation. Over his career, he has accumulated 216 wins, 3,407 strikeouts, and a 74.5 WAR across stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets, and Rangers. The eight-time All-Star has three Cy Young Awards, along with five additional top-five finishes, sporting a 3.16 ERA, 1.078 WHIP, and averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Though it’s uncertain if Scherzer can replicate those peak numbers in the later stages of his career, he has still posted a solid 3.81 ERA, 1.128 WHIP, 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 3.6 WAR over the past two seasons. That level of production would be a welcome addition to the Blue Jays’ rotation, especially if Scherzer can provide even more value.
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