Max Scherzer Addresses Retirement Speculation Near End of 19th MLB Season

Everything is seemingly lined up for Max Scherzer to retire after his 19th season in Major League Baseball, but the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher isn't ready to say 2026 is his final year.

"I don't know if I want to publicly say, yet," he said Wednesday, per insider Hazel Mae. "I'd rather keep the blinders up and address once the season's over. … I'm not limping to the finish line, I'm accelerating through the finish line. … Want to keep the focus on just getting to the finish line."

Scherzer is 42 years old, already has a Hall of Fame resume and is playing in the final season of his contract with the Blue Jays. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise if he called it a career when the 2026 campaign ends.

Still, he has been solid of late and allowed three or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts. One of those starts came against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 30 when he allowed a single hit and no earned runs with 10 strikeouts in seven innings of work.

It was a turn-back-the-clock performance for the three-time Cy Young winner.

While Scherzer is correct that he isn't "limping to the finish line," his season-long numbers are far from his peak. He has a 6.07 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 72.2 innings after posting a 5.19 ERA last season.

That is a far cry from his 3.28 career ERA that helped him build a resume that includes those Cy Youngs, two World Series titles and eight All-Star selections.

Scherzer will end up in Cooperstown after he retires, but his performances of late suggest he may be able to help a team next season if decides against retirement.

For now, he is focused on finishing the 2026 season with a Blue Jays team that is four games out of the final American League Wild Card spot with five games remaining.