It took an entire offseason and more for the Toronto Blue Jays and Max Scherzer to reunite, but in agreeing to do so, they granted Scherzer’s eldest daughter’s wish.
Hours after Scherzer agreed to terms on a 1-year deal with the Jays, his wife, Erica, posted a letter on Instagram that their daughter, Brooke, wrote in December. In it, the eight-year-old says she is looking forward to returning to Toronto for the 2026 season.
“I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series,” the letter said. “I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team.”
Scherzer’s signing with Toronto didn’t appear guaranteed throughout the winter, as the Jays signed two other starting pitchers and Shane Bieber opted into his 2026 contract. Yet, even with significant starting depth, Toronto’s ability to contend and his family’s connection to the franchise drew Scherzer back.
During Toronto’s run to the World Series, the camaraderie between players inside the clubhouse became a consistent talking point. Louis Varland, in the beer-soaked aftermath of the American League Championship Series, likened his teammates to various sorts of glue, bonding the group together. That bond seemed to extend to players’ families, as well.
During the team’s ALCS win over the Mariners, the Blue Jays’ families shared a large hotel breakfast room on the road in Seattle. Kevin Gausman poked his head in throughout the day and saw players’ kids running around with each other at all hours. Players’ wives attended Game 1 of the World Series in matching red and white hockey jerseys. After Toronto’s World Series loss, Erica Scherzer wrote on Instagram that the Jays players and families didn’t want the season to end “just to get more time together.”
That friendship between families, Bieber said, is part of why he decided to opt in to his $16 million deal for 2026, which was well below his projected contract. It likely played a factor for Scherzer, as well.
It also helps that the Jays project to be one of the best teams in the American League. While many thought Scherzer would sign with the San Francisco Giants this winter, joining his former college coach, Tony Vitello, the Jays may give him a real shot at a third World Series title.
It’s still unclear how Scherzer will fit into Toronto’s rotation plans and when he will first pitch for the Jays. At the very least, his daughter must be happy.