Max Scherzer Reportedly Signs New Blue Jays Contract, Updated Payroll & Rotation for MLB Season
After helping the Toronto Blue Jays win their first AL East title since 2015 last year, Max Scherzer is returning to the club this season.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, Scherzer has agreed to a deal to stay with the Blue Jays in 2026.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and SportsNet's Shi Davidi added that Scherzer will earn $3 million in guaranteed money with a full no-trade clause, plus $10 million in incentives that will start when he hits the 65-inning threshold.
Toronto's competitive balance tax payroll without Scherzer's deal was $300.3 million, so this will push the team up to $303.3 million not counting the incentives he could earn.
Blue Jays Updated Pitching Rotation
- Dylan Cease, RHP
- Kevin Gausman, RHP
- Trey Yesavage, RHP
- Cody Ponce, RHP
- Max Scherzer, RHP
- José Berríos, RHP
Despite being one of only five players who were at least 40 years old in MLB last season, Scherzer remained a solid contributor for a Toronto Blue Jays team that won the American League East for the first time since 2015.
The Blue Jays gave Scherzer a one-year contract in February 2025. He landed on the injured list with a thumb injury after making his first start and was out of action for nearly three months.
Scherzer struggled throughout the regular season, posting a career-worst 5.19 ERA and 19 homers allowed in just 85 innings. He effective in three playoff starts during Toronto's run to the World Series, finishing with a 3.77 ERA in 14.1 innings.
Age and injuries have knocked Scherzer from his perch as one of the best pitchers in the sport, but he has evolved into being a useful starter at a time when teams are constantly scrambling to find innings.
Scherzer is best suited to go against lineups populated by right-handed hitters. Lefties slugged .545 and hit 13 homers against him in 200 plate appearances last season.
He could be an impactful reliever at this stage of his career if he wanted to take on that role, but his ability to navigate around lefty hitters still gives him a decent floor as a starter.
The Blue Jays don't need the version of Scherzer who was a perennial Cy Young candidate for nearly a decade, especially after signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce in free agency.
Given the uncertainty around Shane Bieber for the start of the season due to a forearm inflammation and Bowden Francis being out until 2027 due to elbow surgery, Scherzer provides the Blue Jays with an arm they know well who can eat innings as they look to get back to the postseason.
