A 40-year-old, future Corridor of Fame beginning pitcher is taking his abilities north of the border.
Max Scherzer signed with the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday on a one-year, $15.5 million contract, in keeping with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan. MLB Community insider Jon Heyman was first to interrupt the information.
Scherzer was drawing curiosity from a number of golf equipment after a recent showcase in Florida. The Blue Jays have been one of many attending groups, however studies point out that Toronto had been courting the adorned beginning pitcher for months.
The 40-year-old, coming off a season during which he began simply 9 video games for the Texas Rangers, joins a veteran rotation in Toronto that additionally contains Kevin Gausman (3.83 ERA in 31 begins), Jose Berrios (3.60 ERA in 32 begins), Chris Bassitt (4.16 ERA in 31 begins) and Bowden Francis (3.30 ERA in 27 video games, 13 begins). The transfer possible pushes pitchers Yariel Rodriguez (4.47 ERA in 21 begins) and fellow free-agent acquisition Jeff Hoffman (2.17 ERA in 68 aid appearances final season with the Philadelphia Phillies) to the Blue Jays’ bullpen after each had been into account to begin in 2025.
Toronto had missed out on signing Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki (now with the Los Angeles Dodgers) only a few weeks earlier, placing Scherzer firmly on the map for the Blue Jays.
General, the worth right here is strong. A one-year deal is all Scherzer can possible command at this stage in his profession, notably when coming off an injury-riddled marketing campaign. The hope is that Scherzer does not need to be “the man” in Toronto, permitting him to settle into the center of the Blue Jays rotation, the place he is extra prone to make an influence.
Well being is undoubtedly a lingering concern for Scherzer, although. Over the previous couple of seasons, Scherzer has handled a bevy of accidents, together with again, shoulder and hamstring illnesses final yr alone. He has additionally skilled “dead arm” in current postseason runs, which has restricted his capability to contribute meaningfully in October.
None of those accidents seem to have deterred the Blue Jays from including the three-time Cy Younger winner, evidently.
All in all, the Blue Jays and Scherzer appear to be match on paper. However whether or not Toronto can contend in 2025 will decide whether or not the 40-year-old will truly spend the entire season in Canada.
