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The three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time all star will return for an incredible 19th season in the major leagues
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Published Feb 26, 2026 • Last updated 23 minutes ago • 3 minute read
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Manager John Schneider #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks to the mound to talk to Max Scherzer #31 during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners in game four of the American League Championship Series at T-Mobile Park on October 16, 2025 in Seattle. Photo by Alika Jenner /Getty ImagesArticle content
There will be another season of madness at the Rogers Centre.
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The Toronto Blue Jays will take on their 50th anniversary season with a 41-year-old veteran after news broke early Thursday that veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer is returning to the team on a one-year, US$3-million deal.
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Multiple reports suggest that the modest contract can climb significantly on performance bonuses that can add another $10 million to his pay. In other words, it’s a low-risk deal for both parties and one loaded with potential upside.
The living pitching legend was a popular figure in the Jays clubhouse last season, an experienced and forceful voice that was significant the deeper the team went in the playoffs. That one-year deal expired after the 2025 season but Scherzer had made it clear following Game 7 of the World Series that he wasn’t ready to retire.
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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) winds up to deliver a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during second inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Photo by Nathan Denette /The Canadian PressKey performances in post-season
In a season limited by injuries, Scherzer was healthy enough to return for the post-season and add some key performances, including a brilliant stretch of 4.1 innings in that fateful Game 7 of the World Series in which the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the title in extra innings.
Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in his 17 regular season starts, pitching just 85 innings. That limited workload — as thumb problems were an ongoing concern — kept him ready for the post-season.
He made three playoff starts in total, including two starts against the Dodgers in that epic Fall Classic.
Where will Scherzer be in rotation?
Where Scherzer fits in the Jays rotation remains to be seen, but he certainly adds some depth to a group that includes Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Cody Ponce, Shane Bieber, last year’s rookie sensation Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berrios.
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While that seems like a crowded crew, there are health questions with at least a couple of those arms and starting pitching depth is a critical strength for top teams. Bieber, for example, had some arm issues in the offseason and is slowly working into game shape and has yet to throw off of a mound in Florida this spring.
The bonus with Scherzer is the veteran presence that he brings. Working alongside pitching coach Pete Walker, the right-hander is an important voice in helping pitchers on the Jays staff, young and old.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time all star will return for an incredible 19th season in the major leagues.
The contract is a significant cut from the $15.5-million deal he signed for a one-year stint with the Jays last off-season.
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When he reports to spring training in Dunedin, Scherzer will have some work to do to ramp up into game shape, but that depth on the roster affords him some time. There also have been reports that Scherzer was keeping his arm in shape as he awaited another free agent deal.
Is their risk in signing Scherzer?
The contract is a significant cut from the $15.5-million deal, Scherzer signed for a one-year stint with the Jays last off-season, but it comes with next to know risk for either the Jays or for Scherzer.
The base salary is inconsequential in the broader picture, but if Scherzer can contribute the way he did when he was healthy last season, there is huge upside.
The importance of depth can’t be overstated, especially given the slow start to Bieber as well as the likelihood that the Jays will manage the workload of Yesavage as he embarks on his first full season in the big leagues.
For Scherzer, it’s an opportunity to return to a contender – a key for him at this point in his career – and to a city that left a strong impression on his family.
“Out of 18 seasons in MLB none has made an impact on our lives quite like this one,” Scherzer’s wife, Erica, wrote on an Instagram post after the near magical World Series run. “Toronto, our family fell in love with your beauty, culture and people. Playing for an entire country is truly special.”
And now the Mad Max show returns for a sequel.
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