After a short stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, free agent Max Scherzer will test free agency at 41 years old.
Scherzer is an eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. The veteran hurler has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, being limited to only 17 starts in his first season with the Blue Jays. Though he struggled during the regular season, posting a 5.19 ERA, Scherzer excelled in the postseason, logging a 3.77 ERA in three starts.
Despite Scherzer’s age, MLB.com’s Will Leitch believes the 41-year-old still has some gas left in the tank after a strong showing in the postseason.
“If you just look at Scherzer’s regular-season stats for 2025, you might think he — at the age of 41 — might not have that much left to give,” Leitch wrote Saturday. “But in October, he reminded everyone he is Max Scherzer, and in a way that could surely encourage someone else to bring him back for 2026 for similar reasons.
“He’s been one of the most intimidating postseason pitchers for nearly two decades now. And remember: If you are a manager and you come out to the mound to take Max out of the game, be ready for a fight.”
In Game 7 of the World Series, Scherzer allowed only one run in 4 1/3 innings pitched, nearly helping push Toronto past the Los Angeles Dodgers. Returning to the Blue Jays is not out of the question for the 41-year-old, as Scherzer teased a potential return earlier this offseason.
The Blue Jays’ starting rotation has been flooded with talent this offseason after the team signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, but a team can never have too much pitching. Bringing back Scherzer would be a good move for Toronto.
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