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Report: Blue Jays have shown interest in Max Scherzer
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Photo credit: © Jeff Curry - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Jan 20, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 20, 2025, 11:32 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to Max Scherzer.
In an article for Sportsnet, Ben Nicholson-Smith reported that the Blue Jays have shown interest in the veteran starting pitcher, but as of now, it’s a tough sell. Nicholson-Smith also noted that signing a power-hitter like Anthony Santander or Pete Alonso could help in their pursuit.
It’s well known that the Blue Jays are looking to add a starter this off-season, and they looked ever so close to landing Rōki Sasaki before the 23-year-old signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer was once one of the best pitchers in the sport, winning the American League Cy Young in 2013 with the Detroit Tigers and two National League Cy Young Awards with the Washington Nationals in 2016 and 2017.
Scherzer, 40, also brings pedigree to whatever team he signs with, having won two World Series in his career. His first came with the Nationals in 2019 when the Wild Card shocked the Houston Astros to win their first title in franchise history. The next came with the Texas Rangers in 2023 after a mid-season trade.
The right-handed pitcher most recently pitched with the Texas Rangers in 2024, posting a 3.95 ERA and a 4.18 FIP in 43.1 innings pitched with a 22.6 K% and a 5.6 BB%. Scherzer missed most of the season due to injury, having a herniated disc and thumb soreness before the start of the season. Toward the end of the season, the 40-year-old had arm fatigue and nerve injuries, along with a hamstring strain that ended his season.
Scherzer’s most recent full-season was in 2023 with the Rangers and the New York Mets, where he had a 3.77 ERA and a 4.32 FIP in 152.2 innings pitched, with a 28 K% and a 7.2 BB%. The last time he could front a rotation was back in 2022 with the Mets, where he had a 2.29 ERA and a 2.62 FIP in 145.1 innings pitched, along with a 30.6 K% and a 4.2 BB%.
Next season, Fangraphs’ Steamer predicts he’ll have a 3.97 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 128 innings pitched, or 23 starts. Moreover, his K% will jump back up to 25.1%, while his BB% will sit at 6.2%. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Jays to sign him to a short-term deal for the back end of the rotation.

Other notes…

Another interesting note from Ben Nicholson-Smith’s article is that the Blue Jays sent Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho, and Chad Green to Toronto to meet with Sasaki. Notably, it hasn’t been reported that their superstar, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., attended the meeting. Both Bichette and Green are set to become free agents at the end of the season.
Nicholson-Smith also confirmed Jon Heyman’s report that the Jays had an interest in Tanner Scott. The lefty would’ve fit in well in the rotation, but they’ve also shown interest in Carlos Estévez, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. We’ll see if anything comes from it.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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