Blue Jays must decide if George Springer and Max Scherzer still fit in 2027

After the Toronto Blue Jays were officially eliminated from playoff contention by the Baltimore Orioles earlier this week, the focus starts turning towards the offseason. This offseason is a big one for the Blue Jays if they want to get back into the World Series.

There are many aspects the Blue Jays will need to address this winter. After entering the season with a lot of starting pitching depth, they finished the season with only one truly healthy starting pitcher and that pitcher (José Soriano) didn't even start the season with the Blue Jays. They will need to find durable starters whether that is by free agency or trade.

As for the offense, the Blue Jays struggled mightily with chasing pitches out of the zone. According to FanGraphs, the Blue Jays have the third highest chase rate and the highest contact rate on chase pitches.

Hitters like Ernie Clement and Andrés Giménez possess second percentile chase rates according to Baseball Savant. The Blue Jays will need to look to find hitters who offer less chase if they want to improve their offense next summer.

Internally, there are several candidates that the Blue Jays may consider bringing back as they already have a rapport with these players. But does it make sense to bring them back?

These veterans have proven to be valuable to the Blue Jays but is a reunion in the cards for George Springer and Max Scherzer?

George Springer

Springer was worth the 6-year, $150 million contract he was given during the 2021 offseason. Though his regular season production has been mixed with three years of above average production and three years of average or below-average production, he would come through when it mattered the most.

Before signing with the Blue Jays, Springer was known for his big moments in the playoffs. In Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS, Springer hit the go-ahead home run to help send the Blue Jays to the World Series. For his career, Springer's 23 playoff home runs ranks third all-time.

After a career year that absolutely no one saw coming in 2025, Springer has reverted back to his 2023-2024 form, where he was a league average producer. In 2026, Springer is hitting .251/.323/.407 with a 107 wRC+. His batted ball metrics and contact quality have regressed.

It would be a tough sell to bring Springer back for one more season. He recently turned 37 and has been in decline for three out of the last four seasons. It is more realistic to see him being a league average producer at this rate. Defensively, Springer was a huge liability in the outfield last season (-6 OAA in 67 games) that he was moved to DH, where he resides to this day.

Assuming baseball begins as scheduled in 2027, Barger will need to DH early on as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Santander has not graded as a positive defender since 2020 (+1-OAA) so he's another guy the Blue Jays would prefer to take DH at-bats once Barger is healthy.

Verdict

As valuable as Springer has been for the Blue Jays, it is best that they do not bring him back. The Blue Jays already have several internal candidates that can DH, allowing them to rotate different guys to keep their bats in the lineup.

Max Scherzer

Since joining in 2025, Scherzer has been a valuable mentor to the Blue Jays. Though he has not been as effective in the regular season, Scherzer was able to show up when it mattered the most. In Game 4 of the ALCS, Scherzer had a big performance going 5.2 innings pitched, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out five to even the series against Seattle at 2-2.

Scherzer did not sign with the Blue Jays until late February this season. He once again missed time due to arm and back injuries, but he pitched in 17 games this season. He has posted a 6.14 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP. At 42-years-old, it is not realistic to expect Scherzer to be what he was in his prime.

Having played 19 seasons in the Majors, Scherzer's experiences and wealth of knowledge makes him a great resource for the entire pitching staff.

If Scherzer were to return for a 20th season, it would be best as a reliever, something he has not done since 2008. His body has not co-operated with him as he has pitched in just 43 games since 2024. When he has been healthy, he has not been overly effective, posting a 5.29 ERA.

Verdict

Scherzer currently sits ninth all time in strikeouts, only four back of Justin Verlander, and 24 back of Don Sutton. For the Blue Jays, as valuable as Scherzer is as a mentor, it is hard to rely on him as a starter. If Scherzer wants to come back as a starter for a 20th season, it would likely have to be on another team, although leaving the door open for him to return as a coach should be on the table.

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