02/26/26 11:08:00
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02/26 11:06 CST Max Scherzer and Toronto Blue Jays agree to $3 million, 1-year
deal, AP source says
Max Scherzer and Toronto Blue Jays agree to $3 million, 1-year deal, AP source
says
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Max Scherzer is returning to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Two weeks into spring training, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed
with the reigning American League champions on a $3 million, one-year contract,
a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press early
Thursday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was
subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.
The 41-year-old Scherzer can earn another $10 million in performance bonuses,
starting with 65 innings pitched. He gets $1 million for 65 innings and each
additional 10 through 155.
Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts and 85 innings for the Blue Jays
last season, his 18th in the major leagues. Then he made three starts in the
postseason, beating Seattle 8-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship
Series before getting the ball twice in the World Series against the Los
Angeles Dodgers.
The right-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 7 and left to a
rousing ovation from fans in Toronto, but the Blue Jays lost 5-4 in 11 innings.
Scherzer signed a $15.5 million, one-year contract with Toronto in February
2025. A free agent again this winter, he's set to rejoin the Blue Jays and
provide even more depth for a strong rotation expected to feature some
combination of Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody
Ponce, Jos Berros and Eric Lauer.
"He's not afraid to question baserunning, question defense, question offense.
He still thinks he's our best baserunner on the team from his days with the
Nationals," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said about Scherzer last fall.
"He's not afraid to push the envelope. He's not afraid to be curious. He's not
afraid to share things that he's been through that maybe I haven't been
through."
Scherzer has won two World Series titles, with Washington in 2019 and Texas in
2023. The eight-time All-Star is 221-117 with a 3.22 ERA for the Diamondbacks,
Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Rangers and Blue Jays.
He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts --- 20 behind Hall of
Famer Walter Johnson.
___
AP Baseball Writers Janie McCauley and Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this
report.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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