Max Scherzer ended his free agency suspense.
The right-handed pitcher, who made two World Series starts for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, has agreed to terms on a new contract with Toronto, according to multiple reports Wednesday.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post was first to report the news on X on Feb. 25.
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Scherzer, 41, went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 2025 with Toronto. He was limited to 17 regular season starts due to injuries, but was a key contributor to the Blue Jays’ postseason run.
Scherzer started and won Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, then took a no-decision in the winner-take-all Game 7, allowing only one run in 4.1 innings. The Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays in extra innings to claim the championship.
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Scherzer and the Jays maintained a “strong mutual interest” but needed time to hammer out the terms of a new deal, according to Heyman. The Grapefruit League season has already begun, and one of the first questions Scherzer will face when he reports to camp is whether he’ll be able to ramp up in time for Opening Day.
When he debuts, Scherzer will give the Blue Jays a deep rotation that gives them a realistic chance of getting back to the World Series.
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Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Jose Berrios and Trey Yesavage are all but assured a rotation spot if they’re healthy. Cody Ponce, who signed a 3-year, $30 million contract to leave the KBO, had the inside track on the fifth starter’s job — and still might, if the Blue Jays decide to open the season with a six-man rotation.
Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and a near-lock for Cooperstown. But the last four seasons have only seen Scherzer make 30 starts once — in 2023, when he helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series.
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From 2013-19, Scherzer went 118-47 with a 2.82 ERA and averaged 32 starts and 213 innings per season. He capped the prime of his career with his first World Series ring, with the Washington Nationals in 2019.
Now, Scherzer gets another chance to add another ring to his collection.
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