Blue Jays cement elite rotation with blockbuster Max Scherzer signing

ByEric Cole|
Texas Rangers v Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers v Seattle Mariners | Alika Jenner/GettyImages

The Toronto Blue Jays have been hellbent on making a major splash this offseason. It certainly took a while for the front office to actually convince free agents of note to sign, but they have made significant progress lately.

The addition of Jeff Hoffman to beef up the bullpen, as well as the signing Anthony Santander for some added power in their lineup, have turned the offseason narrative around.

However, things still felt incomplete. The Blue Jays' rotation was in "okay" shape heading into 2025, but it lacked depth, and that is not a place you want to be in, given how many arms get hurt year in, year out.

While Toronto's latest signing comes with his own risks, it is still rather exciting, as it was reported early Thursday evening that Max Scherzer is signing with the Blue Jays.

Max Scherzer agrees to one year deal with the Blue Jays as Toronto's offseason comeback continues

Obviously, this move would have been more exciting a few years ago, but adding Scherzer is still a tremendous get for Toronto and could pay massive dividends. Up until the last year or two, Scherzer was one of the absolute best pitchers in baseball, and is a surefire Hall of Famer once his playing days are done. He also is a fierce competitor that desperately wants to win, which can't hurt the Blue Jays' chances with him on their roster.

Of course, there are some challenges here. Scherzer's best days are behind him at 40 years old, and several injuries in 2024 limited him to just nine starts with a 3.95 ERA. It seems like he has put at least some of those injury concerns behind him with his latest showcase for teams, but it is going to be worth monitoring.

Given that Scherzer's deal is for one year at a pretty reasonable rate of $15.5 million, that's great value for a guy of his stature. There is a chance it doesn't work out and Scherzer is truly washed, but it is a worthy gamble on a guy that could be a steal at that price if he he has anything left in the tank.

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