Toronto’s pitching rotation has officially become one of the most competitive in the league. The Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a free-agent contract with right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer, signing the veteran arm to a one-year deal worth $15.5 million. As standard procedure, the deal is pending until he passes a physical. Over the past few days, Scherzer had been in discussions with the Blue Jays, Mets, and Yankees.

The Blue Jays were expected to pursue reinforcements for their lineup to improve their offensive production. However, they have added just one bat, signing Anthony Santander to a multi-year contract. Their pitching rotation has also been an area of focus, though the team previously failed to land top targets such as Roki Sasaki and Corbin Burnes.

Scherzer’s experience and pitch repertoire bring an elite presence to Toronto’s rotation. He fills out the final starter spot, significantly strengthening the staff.

The right-handed starter is currently 40 years old. He was originally drafted in 2003 and re-drafted in 2006. Since then, he has played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball with six different clubs, earning numerous accolades.

Scherzer’s dominance was particularly evident during his time with the Detroit Tigers. He made his first All-Star appearance with the Tigers in 2013, eventually being selected to eight All-Star Games throughout his career.

From 2013 to 2018, Scherzer demonstrated his ability to provide durability and depth to a pitching staff, recording 200-plus innings in each of those seasons. He led the league in innings pitched in both 2016 and 2018. Additionally, he topped the league in wins in four different seasons.

Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner. He’s also led the league in strikeouts per nine innings pitched back in 2012 and was the overall strikeout leader in three separate seasons.

The 2024 season was a shortened one for Scherzer. While pitching for the Texas Rangers, he made only nine starts, finishing with a 2-4 record and a 3.95 ERA through 43 1/3 innings. A back injury kept him on the sidelines but when he was healthy, he limited the walks to a 2.1 BB/9 mark and struck out batters at an 8.3 K/9 clip, with a 1.154 WHIP.

In contrast, 2023 was a more productive season for the veteran pitcher. He began the year with the New York Mets before being traded to Texas midseason. Across both teams, Scherzer pitched 152 2/3 innings, compiling a 13-6 record with a 3.77 ERA, a 1.120 WHIP, and a 4.32 FIP.

That season, he struck out 174 batters while issuing only 45 walks. If healthy, this reflects Scherzer’s true capabilities—even at his age.

Without a doubt, Scherzer remains one of the best arms in the game, with a track record of elite performances. He now joins a talented Blue Jays rotation that includes Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, and Bowden Francis, with Alek Manoah (later this season) and possibly Yariel Rodríguez as additional options.

Beyond his skillset, Scherzer brings extensive postseason experience and a strong competitive mindset. His leadership and veteran presence will help foster a winning culture in Toronto. Known for his intense demeanour and aggressive approach, Scherzer’s presence adds grit to the pitching staff. The Blue Jays can expect Scherzer to provide consistent depth in starts, typically pitching at least five to six innings per outing. Competing in the American League East will be a challenge, but Scherzer’s prior experience in the league gives him an advantage.

A true master of his craft, Scherzer utilizes a five-pitch mix with supreme confidence, demonstrating excellent command and an aggressive approach to getting ahead in counts.

Scherzer is also a proven strikeout machine. In 14 of his 17 seasons, he has recorded 150 or more strikeouts, surpassing the 200-strikeout mark in nine of those seasons (including the shortened 2020 campaign). In 2018, he led the league with an impressive 300 strikeouts and also led the 2016 season with 284 punchouts.

Even more importantly, Scherzer’s addition provides greater depth to the Blue Jays’ bullpen by creating more flexibility in roles and innings distribution for the relief staff.

With this signing, Toronto has taken a major step toward solidifying its pitching staff—making them a formidable force in the league.