The Toronto Blue Jays have shown continued interest in signing Max Scherzer this offseason, with negotiations becoming more urgent over the past week, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. While no agreement has yet been finalized and other teams remain contenders to sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner, Toronto is reportedly accelerating its bid to bring Scherzer back to the Rogers Centre.
At 41 years old, Scherzer pitched for the Blue Jays during the 2025 season after agreeing to a one-year, $15.5 million contract in free agency. Despite suffering from persistent injuries—including issues with his thumb and a nerve in his right arm—Scherzer managed to appear in 85 innings. Although he posted a career-high 5.19 ERA, he still maintained a strikeout rate of 22.9% and a walk rate of just 6.4%, performing close to league average in key pitching metrics.
Reviewing Scherzer’s Performance Amid Injury Challenges
Much of Scherzer’s inflated ERA came from a single disastrous outing in which he allowed seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning late in the season. Excluding that start, his ERA across the remaining 16 games was a more respectable 4.48. While not dominant, this shows he was generally serviceable throughout the year. In the playoffs, Scherzer improved his effectiveness, logging three starts with a 3.77 ERA over 14⅓ innings.
Current Rotation Depth and Recent Setbacks for Toronto
The Blue Jays enter the new season with significant pitching depth. The starting rotation is set to include Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, and Cody Ponce, who returned from Korea’s KBO League. Right-hander Shane Bieber remains part of the rotation after opting out of free agency to pick up his $16 million player option but will begin the season on the injured list due to forearm fatigue. The club attributes this precaution to Bieber’s workload, having pitched 88 innings and extended into postseason play following Tommy John surgery recovery.
Another blow to Toronto’s pitching depth is the absence of Bowden Francis, sidelined for the entire year recovering from Tommy John surgery. These recent developments help explain why the Blue Jays may be accelerating talks to add depth like Scherzer on their staff.
Potential Plan for Integrating Scherzer into the Rotation
If a deal with Scherzer is reached, the Blue Jays appear to consider a gradual return to the rotation, possibly delaying his season debut until late April or early May to allow for a controlled workload build-up. This approach would accommodate his recent injury history and help manage his usage through the season.
Financial Considerations Impacting Scherzer Contract Discussions
Toronto’s luxury tax situation heavily influences any financial decisions. The Blue Jays are among the highest-spending teams in baseball and have exceeded the luxury tax threshold for three consecutive seasons. Adding Scherzer’s salary will increase their tax bill by 110% on his earnings, which is a significant cost given their payroll is already projected to set a franchise record by over $30 million.
Evaluating Available Pitching Depth Beyond the Core Starters
With Francis sidelined and Bieber on the injured list, the sixth starting role likely falls to Eric Lauer. Lauer had a strong rebound year in 2025 and may serve in both a starter and swing role depending on health scenarios. After Lauer, however, the depth becomes uncertain.
Prospect Ricky Tiedemann is expected to be healthy but has not pitched since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, having thrown just 17⅓ innings that year. Meanwhile, Adam Macko struggled with control issues and barely maintained an ERA under 5.00 while pitching in Triple-A last season. Lazaro Estrada, who debuted in the majors last year, recorded a 5.73 ERA in his limited minor league innings in 2025.
Additional right-handed pitchers on the 40-man roster include Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles, both of whom face Rule 5 restrictions. Bastardo missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and must spend 90 days on the active roster before being eligible for optioning. These factors complicate carrying multiple pitchers with restricted options. Non-roster players such as Yariel Rodriguez—whom the Jays just passed through waivers—along with journeymen Connor Seabold and Michael Plassmeyer, also provide depth options during spring training but represent less secure choices.
Implications of Pitching Depth Shortages for the Blue Jays
Toronto’s current pool of backup starters lacks depth and reliability, which could be problematic if Bieber’s recovery takes longer or if new injuries occur. In this context, whether the Blue Jays secure a one-year reunion with Scherzer or pursue other veteran options like Anthony DeSclafani, adding experienced pitching depth is a strategic priority to mitigate risks during the upcoming season.
“There’s no deal in place, and there are still other clubs hoping to sign the future Hall of Famer, but Toronto has apparently hastened its efforts to get the three-time Cy Young winner back to the Rogers Centre.” – Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet
“Price point will matter on any deal for Scherzer, particularly if the idea is for him to be on a slow progression early in the season. The Jays are in the top tier of luxury penalization and are exceeding the base threshold for a third straight season.” – Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet
“With Francis out for the season and Bieber opening on the IL, the sixth starter is Eric Lauer, who enjoyed a resurgent year with the Jays in 2025.” – Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet
“It’s not an especially deep or appealing set of depth options, and if Bieber winds up missing more time than expected and/or the Jays incur another injury on the big league staff, the depth will be tested in a hurry.” – Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet
