The Blue Jays officially announced they’ve re-signed Max Scherzer to a one-year contract. The Boras Corporation client is reportedly guaranteed $3MM and can earn up to $10MM in incentives. He’d earn his first $1MM bonus at 65 innings and reach another $1MM bonus for every tenth inning, up through 155 frames overall. Toronto cleared a 40-man roster spot over the weekend by waiving infielder Ben Cowles, who was claimed by the Cubs.
It’s the future Hall of Famer’s second season in Toronto. The three-time Cy Young winner signed a $15.5MM deal with the Jays during the 2024-25 offseason. He was coming off an abbreviated season in which he’d been limited to nine starts for the Rangers. Scherzer had undergone back surgery the previous offseason, and a nerve issue in his throwing arm limited him once he recovered from the back procedure.
The arm remained problematic last season. Scherzer left his team debut after three innings because of thumb soreness. That had been traced to the nerve issue and ultimately led the Jays to shut Scherzer down for a couple months. He didn’t return to an MLB mound until late June.
Scherzer was able to avoid the injured list after that point but didn’t perform to his usual level. He allowed more than five earned runs per nine innings for the first time in his career. He closed the season with a 5.19 mark over 85 innings. Scherzer only once allowed more than four runs in a start, but he only went beyond five innings on seven occasions. He had six quality starts in 17 appearances.
The 17-year veteran is still capable of missing bats at a league average level. He struck out a slightly above-average 23% of batters faced against a tidy 6.4% walk rate. The issue is the damage hitters have done when they make contact. Scherzer allowed more than two home runs per nine innings for the first time in his career. It was the fourth-highest homer rate in MLB among pitchers who threw 70+ innings.
Scherzer’s fastball averaged 93.6 mph last season. That’s a tick higher than his 2024 mark, reversing a slight downward trend in his velocity during his late 30s. He nevertheless had a tough time getting hitters to chase his breaking pitches outside the strike zone. Scherzer obviously doesn’t have the same caliber of stuff he did at his peak, which makes him more hittable when he’s forced to challenge hitters. He has allowed a higher than average home run rate in three straight seasons.
At age 41, Scherzer profiles as a back-end starter on paper. Yet he has a wealth of big game experience and showed he’s still capable of getting outs on the biggest stage. The Jays left Scherzer off the roster for their Division Series matchup with the Yankees. They brought him back for the AL Championship Series against Seattle and the World Series showdown with the Dodgers.
Scherzer tossed 5 2/3 frames of two-run ball to get the win in ALCS Game 4. He struggled a bit in Game 3 of the World Series before coming back with one run allowed in 4 1/3 innings in Game 7. Scherzer left the mound with a 3-1 lead in a performance that would have been etched into Toronto sports history if the bullpen had held the lead.
They’ll aim to get over the hump in 2026. Assuming Scherzer builds up in time for Opening Day, he’ll probably slot into a six-man rotation to begin the season. Shane Bieber will begin the year on the injured list after experiencing forearm fatigue during the playoff run. Toronto had been slated to open the season with a starting five of Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Cody Ponce.
Yesavage is entering his first full MLB season. Ponce is a bit of a wild card in his return from Korea. Scherzer presumably isn’t going to log 150+ innings at this stage of his career. Opening with a six-man rotation would allow the Jays to take some of the burden off a rotation that shouldered as heavy a load as possible into October.
That comes with a trickle-down impact on the bullpen, however. The 13-pitcher limit means the Jays would be down to a seven-man bullpen if they go this route. That increases the importance of having a quality long reliever like Eric Lauer to handle multiple innings.
At the same time, this makes it less likely that Lauer will have a chance to win a rotation spot. The left-hander is an impending free agent and said he’d prefer a starting opportunity. There hasn’t been any indication that Lauer would seek a trade if the Jays keep him in a relief role, though the southpaw told Mitch Bannon of The Athletic he believes that pitching out of the bullpen last season cost him money in arbitration. Lauer lost his hearing, meaning he’ll make the team’s desired $4.4MM salary rather than his camp’s $5.75MM filing figure.
That could be a situation worth monitoring if everyone remains healthy closer to Opening Day. For now, this looks like the ideal outcome for the Jays and Scherzer alike. The $3MM base salary will push their franchise-record luxury tax payroll to approximately $319MM, according to RosterResource. The Jays are taxed at a 90% rate on spending above $304MM. This signing comes with a $2.7MM base tax. Earned performance bonuses are part of a team’s CBT calculation, so the Jays would also pay that 90% fee on any dollars that Scherzer unlocks by hitting innings milestones throughout the year.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post first reported the agreement. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet had the $3MM base and $10MM in incentives. Heyman reported the incentive structure. Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images.
Six man rotation in Toronto to start the season or do the Jays shop Berrios?
@Rsox
An earlier article said that Max wouldn’t be ready until April/May. Berrios is owed 20M this year and has a player option for 50M for the following 2 seasons. Can’t see anyone wanting that action.
Berrios leads MLB in innings pitched going back to 2018. I’d be hesitant to part with him as there is enough uncertainty with a lot of the rotation and he’s one of the few under control beyond 2026. Think he’ll have a bounce back.
Nice addition bringing Mad Max back and a good fit for both he and the team.
A bounce back would be great because there is still a chance he will opt out and get a longer term deal
These guys “love Toronto so much” it’s hard to get them to opt out. And the older more injured they are the more they love it.
Yes, Berrios might pitch like a back end pitcher this year and at a $18.7 Av salary (18M cash)is not too much more than what Bassit received for providing what will be similar innings this year for Baltimore. I can see other teams not willing to take on the additional 2 years @ 24 Mil in trade for Berrios. That’s the poison pill the Jays will have to swallow for back loading his contract.
I think for the Jay’s Max is just your crazy uncle along for ride until you get to the post season then he takes over the wheel.
He left the team during the WS last year. I hope he likes it but if he has a 180 IP @ 3.85 era season he should be able to command a 4-5 year deal given his health track record.
Jays could help the situation by not hitting him with a QO.
And he gives you 4 innings of 4 run work….depending on Max at this point in his career is not going to end well for the Jays…
padre – I’m really surprised the Jays would agree to the million-every-ten-innings clause. It puts Schneider in a really tough position, as Scherzer is not gonna want to come out of games. And if he pitches poorly and gets demoted to the BP, or if they go with a 6-man rotation, he stands to lose millions.
If that were the case, he’d have a 9.00 ERA (or perhaps somewhat lower if you’re counting unearned runs). I don’t think Scherzer will be THAT bad.
Perhaps. The reason the contract is structured this way is to cover the Jays in case he either gets injured or is just past it. I’d guess that Max is well aware of the situation and if he’s sucking wind, then he’d realise they are going to sit him. Sure he’s insanely competitive but Max is smart enough to know that father time taps every player on the shoulder eventually. I do love to see players hang on. The dude is like 40 years old and has another 40+ years of life left after he retires, why not try to do your favourite thing until they drag your rotting carcass off the diamond? I’d be exactly the same.
Fever – i hope you, or anyone else here can help fill in my reasoning. I should know the answer part of this but…. but it was an exceptionally bad night.
He’s only on a $3m guarantee. If it becomes a clubhouse problem, releasing him, the incentives dont vest right?
Im sure they had a candid talk aboit what they’d expect.in an outing, and, if things are trending a certain way – 90 pitches by the 4th. Given up 3 runs…. im sure they’ve made him aware of what his leash will be like. And, he accepts it given how long he was on the market and couldn’t get a better offer.
GaSox – Correct. If he doesn’t reach the IP markers, he doesn’t get the additional money.
Doesn’t matter why he didn’t reach them.
You get more entertainment value watching money spin clockwise down the toilet. 🤣
I think they go with the 5 listed to start the season, plenty of off days early on. Then Ponce, Yesavage and Lauer all rotate through rotation/long man duties as needed when Shane and Max are ready. Most likely another injury comes along to open spots anyway
I think Max would be more likely to head to the pen than Ponce. Including the playoffs last year in Korea Ponce threw almost 200 innings. Scherzer didn’t even hit 100 last year. He is more likely to need rest. Cody’s arm is more built up than his is.
I can’t see a six man rotation.
That’s because there’s no such thing. You give the same amount of total innings to six pitchers that you would give to five. If Max throws 100 innings it enables you to reduce those innings from the other five. 20 less innings of wear and tear for each one gives them more for the postseason. It makes sense because of how long the postseason is now.
I think Yesavage, Max and Bieber are all unlikely to be ready by opening day. It’ll work itself out, no reason to use a 6 man.
Yesavage? Haven’t heard anything about him not being ready for opening day.
I think he means they may hold him back due to some kind of innings limit.
When are organizations going to accept the fact that holding pitchers back and limiting innings has never been shown to be effective in lessening injuries. Send Yesavage out there every fifth day and, by doing so, improve the team’s chance of reaching the playoffs. Every inning he pitches is one less that a lesser pitcher throws.
I don’t think innings limit is a concern with their manager; he loves to pull starters after 5 innings even if they have thrown only 65 pitches and are working on a shutout, just so he can put in a 5th rate middle reliever.
Why not Yesavage?
Wonder if he will make it the whole season.
At this point it’d be wise to just keep him fresh till the playoffs when it counts.
CW
“At this point it’d be wise to just keep him fresh till the playoffs when it counts.”
Jays are hardly guaranteed a spot. 60% chance per FG
Scherzer is hardly guaranteed to be one of their top 4 starters.
@ Juan
About the Jays being guaranteed a spot on the playoffs, i agree. Every year is different. On Scherzer being guaranteed a top 4 spot in the rotation, he wasn’t in 2025 either yet still pitched in the World Series.
Point is, if there were a plan for Scherzer it would be more for the experience in the post season. Hes not a horse to get you through 162 anymore
Guarantees are for toasters, not baseball — but according to BP the Jays currently have a 79% probability of reaching the playoffs.
CW
“Point is, if there were a plan for Scherzer it would be more for the experience in the post season. Hes not a horse to get you through 162 anymore”
Very few are
He’s an arm to help get them through 162. And I imagine they’d prefer not to start him in the playoffs if they don’t have to
Scherzi as a long relief swing mancould be interesting in a playoff environment during a BP game though
I dont think he makes the playoff roster though, unless injuries happen. He was kind of the last arm on the WS rotation.
I can’t put a price on his leadership and intensity in the dugout for a postseason run, though
Ted
“I can’t put a price on his leadership and intensity in the dugout for a postseason run, though”
Right
Could be a lot or none. Or positive or negative
Does crazy eye sleep with one eye open- clutching his pillow tight
Only when night enters
Dayman!
Fighter of the Nightman!
Champion of the sun
Daylight come and he wanna go home
You would have to be a master of karate as well as a friend to everyone.
Ahhhhhh wahhhhhhhhhhhhh
You gotta pay the troll toll..
To get into this boy’s hole
Boy’s soul!
That’s what I said Charlie, you gotta pay the troll toll to get into this boy’s hole
The first ten or so seasons of that show are peak comedy, because of the implication
Oppo are you hurting these women?
Of course not, but they’re aren’t gonna say no… because of the implication
Can never have too much pitching but I don’t know who he takes innings from. In terms of performance at this point he’s probably 7th behind Lauer.
As a braves fan we now know there is no such thing as worrying about having too many starters. Hopefully it doesn’t happen to your jays, but the chances of your starting five staying healthy these days are about like the Rockies chances of a 26 World Series
8th actually.
Gauzman
Cease
Trey
Bieber
Berrios
Ponce
Layer
Scherzer
I would put Ponce ahead of Berrios. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up being their second or third best SP. I think a lot of people are sleeping on Ponce. He really took his game to another level overseas. If he can put it all together in MLB. I think he has a shot to pitch like a number two.
8th actually;
Gauzman
Cease
Trey
Beiber
Ponce
Berrios
Lauer
Scherzer
Trey won’t have a full work load they’ll ease him up
Beiber isn’t making it to Opening Day and can also be gradual
So 6 with options
dawn of the middle reliever?
8th not 7th. Not a bad problem to have though.
Eye joke, Canada joke, Mad Max joke, 7-man rotation joke.
Nice! Too many pitchers seems like it’s just a theoretical possibility. More the merrier. Just not Merriweather.
Gaius Maximus Sertorius
There has to be another shoe to drop here.. A trade, someone going on the 60. Something like that.
@NoSaint
Jays using the same roster hack the Dodgers use. Unlimited roster spots as everyone goes on the IL for part of the season and then miraculously is fully healthy for the playoff run.
@Old York
That “hack” is so against the letter and spirit of the CBA that it would land the team in a big pile of doggy do-do. And all it would take is one player to spill the beans.
Oddly enough mad max was on the Mets team, and unhappy at the time, when they were hit with penalties for this hack…
Would have been more exciting 10 years ago…..
Can we expect a Scherzer vs Verlander game this season?
I don’t think that has happened.
Sept. 6, 2023. Rangers vs. Astros. It wasn’t much of a contest. Scherzer lasted only three innings in which he gave up seven runs. A rematch would be interesting, though. Bring back the Old Timer’s Game!
Nice! Start the year as teammates and then face off against eachother at the end of season with each on another team.
Scherzer requires incentives? Live and learn, I guess.
Scherzer is being GIVEN incentives. If he were in high demand he should easily get a $10 million contract instead of a bench player salary. The Blue Jays are saying they’re not willing to risk more than $3 million for his competitiveness.
The word incentive doesn’t make sense. By definition, this means the player requires motivation or encouragement to perform. How many players make it to the majors without being fierce competitors? So call them performance bonuses, because that’s what they really are.
In two or three sentences, you have probably expressed more concern about this than Max.
He signed for $3 million.
With the Blue Jays to a) keep his daughter happy and b) chase another Championship Chance. The rest is incidental, not incentive, or this is already a waste for the Jays.
I happen to think, even as competitive as he is, that Max is smart enough to recognize that.
Hall of Famer but this is the swan song.
Since I do not dislike this signing, I have decided to be Mr. Wait N. See (distant cousin to Eddie Taubensee) before opining.
I might wile away some 2026 leisure moments comparing him to Verlander given they are conjoined in the annals (made sure to properly spell that word).
Max could actually out earn JV this season but only if his incentives don’t require that he turn back the clock. That time clearly has passed.
Like the idea of a 6 man rotation, but with Lauer as the sixth man. Let Mad Max contribute through the bullpen, ramping up very slowly, and with liberal use / cycling through of the Injured List.
Cease, gausman,Berrios are not going to be down for a 6 man rotation.
Gauzman will be. When pitching on an extra days rest his ERA is over a run better and he gets an extra 1.3 mph on the fastball.
Gausman has still said last year that he hates it.
Not to say I think Scherzer is gonna be a game changer but the Phillies should have brought him in for the first half. It would have at least taken some pressure off the Painter decision and put another arm in the mix of what looks like a paper thin rotation.
A+ Not hard to give you 3m in Canadian dollars and if he doesn’t it only 3m.
@AI GM
MLB contracts are paid in USD.
He knows, he’s just being an idiot.
Not talking country currency
I would rather the Jays re-signed Randall Grichuk than Max Scherzer
How is Grichuk better than Davis Schneider?
Grichuk signed with the Yankees….move on…
For that price even if he won’t be ready till like May that’s a nice deal to bring back Max.
Good pick up, a sixth starter, probably 100 innings and wisdom for the younger pitchers, at a cheap price too
I guess the question is now after the jays win it all this year, and Max gets his 3rd World Series with a 3rd team, does he go into the hall as a blue jay?
He won’t go in as a Jay. Where did he have the most success? I believe it was in Washington.
He goes in as a National I’d say.
BM
“after the jays win it all this year”
They are like 16 times more likely not to win than win
“does he go into the hall as a blue jay?”
Blank hat
Good move for the Jays.
He was the best Yankee pitcher ever.
I watched a highlight of Addison Barger getting called out on an ABS called third strike.
Clay Holmes was pitching, it was a 2-2 count and the pitch was low and outside, ump called it ball three, Holmes called for the ABS, the game paused for 10 seconds, and Barger went to the dugout with a puzzled look on his face.
The umpire stood there in quiet amazement, and the game went on.
It led me to thinking, how is this ABS going to change the way hitters approach their at-bats with two strikes? Will umpires call more pitches on the edge strikes? If an ump is keeping track of ABS challenges, and knows a team is out of challenges, will the ump call the zone in favor of the team that has challenges remaining simply to avoid being “shown-up” by the ABS system?
For example, the team in the field has used all of its challenges but the hitter has a challenge in his pocket. In this circumstance, as an umpire, I’m tightening up the zone. I’m calling more pitches balls, because only the hitter can challenge my zone.
It will be subtle but these sort of implications could result in what I would call an underhanded reduction in the honesty of the pitch as player and umpires both startegize to game the system in their advantage.
NoABS
“will the ump call the zone in favor of the team that has challenges remaining simply to avoid being “shown-up” by the ABS system”
Umpires are still graded by the league on their accuracy.
“I’m calling more pitches balls, because only the hitter can challenge my zone.”
I’m calling the pitches as accurately as I can
Human nature, mindset, actions are often affected by the most subtle of influences.
Of course you are calling the game to the best of your ability, but if it’s a close pitch, and in the back of your mind as an ump you’re leaning in the batters direction before the pitch is thrown, a direct result of the potential challenge from the batter and the lack of one from the pitcher, you call that pitch a ball more often than you call it a strike. It’s a close pitch, it isn’t going to skew an audit of your strike zone.
An umpire isn’t going to blatantly call pitches incorrectly, calling pitches balls that are certain strikes or vice versa. An umpire is going to make his best effort but does the situation presented have an umpire leaning one way before the pitch is thrown?
I’d say yes it does and that alone could be an issue with the challenge system.
There is a slight bit of strategy involved with the ABS in many game scenarios and all of those can be gamed to some degree.
It isn’t a good wrinkle in the fabric of the game. It is a nuisance that distracts from the game.
I agree that bias exists
And if you’re aware of it, it can work the other way
For the first example that comes to my mind: I had been helping my not really athletic nephew in little league fall ball. He was pivoting the wrong way when he picked up the ball to throw to first. We spent a good amount of time on this
In the game that week one ump didn’t show and I ended up umping. Somewhere in the game my nephew fielded a ball and had to pivot. I was so caught up in what we’d been practicing that I forgot I had to make the call at first. In didn’t see it. At all. I thought he made them play and the runner was out but I knew the expected bias was that I’d call the play for my nephew’s team. So, I called him safe. Apparently he was well out.
There’s no reason to think that other people wouldn’t also overcorrect for their bias.
Will more people make biased calls or overcorrect for their bias? I have no idea. I doubt you do either.
While this is an interesting hypothesis, I think there’s too much going on during an MLB game, for an umpire to resort tot his level of thinking.
“See pitch, call pitch.” Each ump wants to call the game as accurately as they can, regardless of which team has challenges remaining.
@ JuanUribe – irrelevant but it’s a nice story.
@HummBaby – I’m a human, I don’t like the ABS – I’m calling that pitch a ball on the outside corner.
I’m not going into my strike three call, my punch out call. I practiced in the garage for a month this spring.
In fact, I ain’t showing you the punch out call ever again and if you want to hire some phonies to show you theirs by all means, plenty of umpires looking for an opportunity.
Integrity in this profession stands against that damn ABS and don’t think otherwise.
I understand his motives but I hate to see a case building for him going into the hall with a blank hat.
Fuzz – He’s going in as a Nat, it’s a no-brainer.
Most Starts
Most Innings
Most Wins
Most WAR
Most K’s
Best ERA
Best WHIP
Most Cy Youngs Awards
Most Cy Young Ballots
Most MVP Ballots
Etc
The same is true of Greg Maddux.
I think one of the reasons the Blue Jays brought Scherzer back was for his wealth of pitching knowledge. He can be a great mentor to a young Trey Yesavage. Anyone who watched a Blue Jays game during the 2025 season always saw Max explaining things to other players, pitchers or otherwise. He is a great veteran presence and I think John Schneider & Pete Walker realise that. Anything Max does on the field is a bonus.
I saw live one the Scherzer starts, in August, the place was electric with anticipation on each pitch. He adds to team appeal, and his knowledge is a bonus.
This is precisely the reason why I was hoping the Giants were going to add Mad Max. SF is carrying a ton of young, unproven pitchers on their 40 man roster. Scherzer would almost serve as a de facto extra pitching coach.
Can he hit? Because offense, not pitching is what concerns me most on this team.
It’s reported as $13 million total. Split between 3 million guaranteed and an additional 10 for incentives, not 10 total.
So just to recap – they didn’t sign Tucker, didn’t bring back Bichette and didn’t sign a closer, which is why they lost the World Series. Hey, at least they gave Cease an albatross contract. Great offseason LOL.
Sure. Ignore the historic Vladdy extension and the other half dozen moves they made to bolster pitching.
Mon
“didn’t bring back Bichette and didn’t sign a closer, which is why they lost the World Series”
Tell me you don’t understand baseball without telling me
No, they definitely lost the World Series because they have a scrub closing games.
6 man rotation might be a good idea these days. The experience and attitude he brings is great for all these guys.
Even more with this contract structure, I wouldn’t want to be the guy that pulls him from the mound or defense behind him if they make an error. In addition to his internal competitive drive, there are dollars at stake when he misses out on IP.
I doubt a guy like Max is thinking about $ over his team whenever he’s on the mound. One doesn’t have a long, successful career like his with that mentality.
One isn’t a human being without this mentality.
To each their own, my friend.
If the money matters to Max, this is already a bad deal for the Jays.
He wants another chance. THAT competitive drive is what the Jays are paying for, regardless of innings counts.
Dunce post. Money is king. It matters to everyone. It doesn’t even really matter what secondary motivations are there, and I’m not doubting they are, but they’re not sufficient in isolation. The financial amount is tied incontrovertibly to ego.
*
All contracts should be this way
Do little get paid little
This type of contract adversely fires up the MLBPA and often paints the recipient as one who is not looking out for the greater good of those who come after them. Look at Anthony Rizzo as a clear and recent example of what the MLBPA prefers an aging player to do. That being said, Max is Max and probably gets a pass for taking a low guaranteed deal (particularly since there are incentives which make it more palatable)
I have an opinion for the players union
But not for delicate ears
If he actually pitches 155IP after not starting before May 1, it will mean he’s healthy enough and performing sufficiently well, and maybe $13M for a 4/5 who can get to 155 in one fewer month isn’t bad. There were 52 pitchers who got to 162 which is about 27 a month, which would adjust to @135IP for five–so maybe he makes $11M, still, OK if healthy and performing.
On its face, the deal is reasonable. If it goes bad, they won’t pitch him as much, and he won’t cost as much. But if it goes bad, he takes up a roster spot as well while being unable to contribute positively–can’t really predict at this point what down-roster impacts that has.
Didn’t read any of the article but I just saw an article in MLB.com about how Max Scherzer’s daughter wrote the blue Jays a letter. I don’t know how old she did but if she’s 10 or under then you kinda have to re-sign him.
“Dear Blue Jays,
I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, CN Tower and of course, the stadium. I am looking forward to coming back next season.
Love,
Max Scherzer’s daughter”
Just printed 30 copies.
“Dear Baseball person,
My name is YBC, Jr. and I am 5 and a half. I am writing to tell you that you should hire my dad to be your pitcher because our backyard is getting too small for his wild pitches.
Here is why my dad is a better choice than the other guys:
He is very cheap: He told my mom he would work for peanuts, and I know you already have those at the stadium.
He has a secret weapon: It is called a change-up, but usually it just means he dropped the ball on purpose to make me laugh.
He is very brave: He once caught a giant spider in the bathroom without crying. A baseball is much smaller than a spider.
He already has the outfit: He wears his lucky jersey every Sunday. It has a mustard stain on it for good luck, but I can help him scrub it if you want him to look fancy.
He is a great listener: He always listens to me when I tell him it’s time for ice cream. He will probably listen to the umpire too.
If you pick him, I will be your official Bat Boy, but I might need a nap in the 4th inning. Also, if he wins, can we have a pizza party in the dugout? My dad likes pepperoni and I like bacon.
Please write back soon before the neighbors get mad about him hitting their fence.
Love,
YBC, Jr.”
@YankeesBleacherCreature
Almost as good as James Earl Jones speech in Field of Dreams. Maybe in Field of Dreams 2? Jerry Seinfeld as the farmer, George Costanza as Yogi, Kramer as “Spaceman” Bill Lee, and Elaine, well, she just travels with the team.
He’d look real nice closing out games at the end of the year
If he repeats 2025 Scherzer will make $5 million. If he pitches like 2024 he will make $7. His 5.19 ERA won’t contribute much to the team winning more games and he is the opposite of veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
completely and utterly false. Begone spot, begone!
My goodness… If he gets to 65 innings pitched, he has the ability to pitch at a rate of $100,000 per inning the rest of the season…
Last 3 post season starts in 2025 had era of 3.77 over 14 1/3 innings.Still has something left.The regular season era of 5.19 would be lower as he had a horrible Sept start where he pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up 7 runs. Scratch that start and the era would be in the 4s.Worth a shot.
Should have traded some of the pitching depth for Katel Marte.
I think Scherzer would be better used in relief this year, but that’s apparently not going to happen with that incentive structure.
Happy to have mad max back in Toronto when he finally hangs his cleats up for good both him and Verlander will go into the HOF as Tigers and btw I would love the 2 of them to pitch against each other I will have to look at the schedule to see when Detroit plays against Toronto
Scherzer wouldn’t be ready until after Spring if not mid year
One wonders why all contracts aren’t structured like Scherzer’s. You hit certain statistical marks and you get rewarded along the way. If you are a big talent, you can get rewarded bigly along the way, but you still have to achieve certain levels of performance. Just spell it all out in the contract. There can be minimums just for signing on, and health considerations can be specified as well, but why should you commit to paying $20M a year when a guy delivers only $5M value?
Max must write REALLY slow because he’s been signing for like a week now.