Max Scherzer signs one-year deal with Blue Jays, eyes final chapter

The three-time Cy Young winner joins Toronto as he nears the twilight of his Hall of Fame career.

Max Scherzer in the East Room of the White House on August 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Max Scherzer is nearing the final chapter of a legendary career that will undoubtedly lead him to Cooperstown. The 40-year-old pitcher, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion, has agreed to a one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday.

Scherzer’s move to Toronto marks his fifth team in five seasons, a late-career tour that has seen him don the uniforms of the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and now the Blue Jays. Despite injuries that limited him in 2023, his place among baseball’s all-time greats remains secure.

With 3,407 career strikeouts, Scherzer ranks among the greatest pitchers in history. Among active players, only his longtime counterpart and former teammate Justin Verlander has more wins and strikeouts. Verlander, who recently signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, holds a slight edge in career totals, but Scherzer remains within striking distance.

Statistically, Scherzer’s dominance is undeniable. His career ERA of 3.16 is bested only by Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, and Chris Sale among active pitchers. He ranks 11th all-time in career strikeouts, just nine behind Verlander and 102 away from surpassing Hall of Famer Walter Johnson. If he stays healthy, Scherzer has a strong chance to break into the top seven in career strikeouts, needing 233 more to pass Tom Seaver.

Last season was Scherzer’s most injury-plagued campaign since his debut in 2008. Nerve, back, and hamstring issues limited him to just nine starts and a 3.95 ERA with the Texas Rangers. His season was cut short after July 30, and he made only one major-league start in the final two months.

However, Scherzer remains optimistic about his ability to return to form. Speaking to MLB.com in September, he expressed confidence that an offseason of focused rehab would resolve his lingering nerve issue.

“I’ve been able to find ways around (the nerve issue),” Scherzer said. “And I actually think given an offseason to properly address the root of it and really address that, I don’t see that being an issue next year at all.”

Scherzer’s last dominant season came in 2022 when he posted a 2.29 ERA across 23 starts with the Mets. Even in 2023, his performance—though below his usual standards—was still strong, finishing with a 3.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. If healthy, he could provide a major boost to the Blue Jays’ rotation.

A career spanning multiple eras

Scherzer’s path to stardom began as a first-round draft pick out of the University of Missouri in 2006. He debuted with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in December 2009. It was in Detroit that Scherzer blossomed into an ace, winning his first Cy Young Award in 2013.

He then signed with the Washington Nationals, where he cemented his legacy with two more Cy Young Awards and a 2019 World Series title. A midseason trade in 2021 sent him to the Dodgers, followed by a free-agent deal with the Mets. When the Mets struggled in 2023, Scherzer was once again on the move, landing with the Rangers and adding another championship to his résumé.

The Blue Jays’ decision to sign Scherzer reflects their commitment to contending in 2024. With an already strong rotation featuring Kevin Gausman and José Berríos, Toronto is hoping that a healthy Scherzer can provide veteran leadership and elite pitching depth.

At this stage in his career, Scherzer has little left to prove. His legacy is already secure, with Hall of Fame induction a virtual certainty. However, another full and productive season would serve as a fitting final chapter in one of the most dominant pitching careers in modern baseball history.