SACRAMENTO, CA – JULY 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Friday, July 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to return to the World Series after coming within one game of winning it all this year. But they’ll have some roster work to do this winter.
Even after extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and receiving news that Shane Bieber will return, the Blue Jays will have to retool around potential free agent exits from the roster. Chris Bassitt, Bo Bichette and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will all be exploring contract offers from new teams.
And so will a future Hall of Famer who enjoyed a short but productive stint with the Blue Jays, after Max Scherzer announced that he will continue his career into next season.
“I can still do this,” Scherzer told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal after his one-year contract with the Blue Jays came to an end after the season. “Now, looking forward, I want to still compete, and compete for a World Series. I want to continue my career and play in 2026.”
Scherzer is sure to find a home for next season either in a return to the Blue Jays or with another team. Despite suffering some injury setbacks in his age-41 season this past year, he made three strong starts in the postseason. And the experience he has accrued in a legendary career, which includes three Cy Young Awards and eight All-Star appearances, makes him an invaluable addition to any dugout.
Ultimately, though, Scherzer seems most likely to sign another one-year deal that allows him to continue his career before reassessing and potentially leaving the game next winter.
“Even if Scherzer isn’t the surefire ace he once was, he’s still a valuable pitcher and one many teams would be happy to have on their roster,” Nick Deeds wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “Even so, it’s likely that Scherzer’s ceiling in free agency figures to be the one-year, $15.5MM contract he signed with Toronto last year, coming off a nine-start 2024 campaign with the Rangers.”
Even with Bieber’s return, the Blue Jays would be a good fit for Scherzer next season. But virtually every contending team could use some rotation reinforcement and another potential playoff starter. So now that he’s decided to continue his career, Scherzer should have some options.
“He may not get 30 starts,” an anonymous executive told Rosenthal of Scherzer. “But can he get 20 starts at a mid-3.00 ERA and a mid-3.00 FIP, be a guy who’s going to compete and care about winning? I 100 percent believe that.”
With that opinion likely permeating throughout Major League Baseball, Scherzer should be able to add a few more starts to what is already a Hall of Fame career.