Max Scherzer Agrees to Return to Toronto Blue Jays; 41-Year-Old Veteran to Play Another Season

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports that 41-year-old legendary right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer has agreed to a contract to return to the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Sportsnet reporter Shi Davidi, the base salary is $3 million, with an additional $10 million available through performance bonuses, although the team has not officially confirmed this information.

Scherzer’s resume speaks for itself; he is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, having won the Cy Young Award three times, been selected to eight All-Star games, maintained a career ERA of 3.22, and an ERA+ of 131. He holds two World Series rings and ranks 11th all-time with 3,489 strikeouts.

Of course, even future Hall of Famers cannot escape the effects of aging. Now 41, Scherzer has struggled with injuries over the past two years, starting only 26 regular-season games. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Blue Jays. In the 2025 season, he pitched 85 innings with a career-worst 5.19 ERA. Since he received a qualifying offer from the Tigers in 2014, he is no longer subject to draft pick compensation this year, so signing him does not cost the team any draft picks.

Despite his struggles in the regular season, Scherzer proved his worth in October’s playoffs. When the Blue Jays were down 1-2 against the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series, he started Game 4 and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing only two runs, securing a crucial victory for the team.

Before entering the World Series, the fiercely competitive right-hander stated he had no intention of retiring, especially after gaining control over the thumb injury that had plagued him throughout the year.

“As long as I can start for a team capable of contending, I want to keep pitching,” Scherzer said at the time. “If my body stays healthy, I want to continue. Since my thumb issue was resolved, I feel like I’ve been reborn and am confident I can still pitch at this level.”

Scherzer also delivered solid performances in his two starts against the Dodgers in the World Series, including 4.1 innings with only one run allowed in Game 7. Had the Blue Jays won that game, Scherzer might have reconsidered retirement and ended his career with a third ring. But we will never know. The heartbreaking loss in Game 7 not only denied Scherzer a fairy-tale ending but also gave him another reason to compete in his 19th Major League season.