The Toronto Blue Jays made headlines late last night, signing Max Scherzer to a one-year deal and bringing back the future Hall of Famer on a contract structured heavily on how many innings he pitches in 2026.

While the Jays are bringing back Scherzer for this season, the Jays’ front office (before the Atkins/Shapiro era) employed a similar tactic with a Hall of Fame southpaw in the twilight of his career.

On February 26, 2015, the Jays signed left-hander Johan Santana to a minor league deal, with the veteran hurler earning $2.5 million if he made the Opening Day roster and additional bonuses for games started.

Santana had not appeared on a big league mound since 2012, with injuries keeping him on the sidelines for 2013 and 2014.

A shoulder ailment would force the Venezuelan product to the sidelines to start the 2015 season, and he would not pitch for the Jays in affiliated action down in Buffalo. A toe infection mid-summer ended his comeback and eventual career, with the veteran hurler calling it a career in 2018.

The left-hander is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, three-time ERA leader, four-time All-Star, and won the Triple Crown in 2006. He spent eight seasons with the Minnesota Twins and finished his career with the New York Mets, spending four seasons in the NL East.

Santana finished his career with a 3.20 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.44 FIP, and a 1.132 WHIP.

While the veteran arm did not win a World Series title, he was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2018 and was inducted into Cooperstown in 2022 with 81% of the vote.

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