"Announcement: Blue Jays Sign RHP Max Scherzer to 1-Year Contract Worth $15.5M"
According to multiple reports on Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays are set to sign 40-year-old right-hander Max Scherzer to a one-year deal worth $15.5 million. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, became a free agent after a tumultuous 2024 season with the Texas Rangers.
In his nine starts with the Rangers, Scherzer had a 2-4 record with a 3.95 ERA, 40 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 43 1/3 innings. However, his season was plagued by injuries, including a late start due to back surgery, right thumb pain, shoulder fatigue, and a hamstring strain that ended his season in September.
Over his 17-year career, Scherzer has a record of 216-112 with a 3.16 ERA. He currently ranks second among active pitchers and 11th all-time with 3,407 strikeouts. He also ranks highly in other categories, including second in wins, innings pitched, and games started, fourth in shutouts and ERA, and fifth in complete games.
Scherzer has earned two Cy Young awards, one with the Detroit Tigers in 2013 and another with the Washington Nationals in 2016 and 2017. He also has two World Series titles, one with the Nationals in 2019 and another with the Rangers in 2023.
The Blue Jays will be Scherzer's seventh team, following stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2008-2009), Tigers (2010-2014), Nationals (2015-2021), Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), New York Mets (2022-2023), and Rangers.
