Blue Jays pitcher says he had options in free agency, but wanted to return to Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays are blessed with a strong rotation because of talent and depth. That depth is being called upon before the season even starts after a string of injuries have put Shane Biber, José Berrios and Trey Yesavage on the shelf to begin the season. Fortunately, the Blue Jays are able to weather the storm because they re-upped with a pitcher who always loomed for contending teams needing depth in their starting rotation.

The Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer was a match made in heaven for more reasons than one. They loved Mad Max and the native of Missouri loved them right back and in a recent interview he revealed his plan was to return to Canada all along.

It wasn't Toronto or bust for Max Scherzer, but he is right where he wanted to be all along

"There would have been a couple other teams. I really wanted to come back to Toronto... At the end of the day, I wanted it to be (Toronto)," Scherzer explained on the Foul Territory podcast.

Scherzer wasn't lying after the Blue Jays' Game 7 loss when he spoke highly of this team. Some players use the platform to discuss their impending free agency. Mad Max made it clear that Toronto left a special impression for someone who has worn seven different uniforms over the course of his career. So much so that even one of Scherzer's kids got involved in the act!

Scherzer is only 37 innings away from 3,000 career MLB innings. He's armed with a boatload of postseason experience that still showed well in October. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer didn't have an elite 2025 regular season, but renewed health will play a huge role in his effectiveness this season. No one can question his intensity and competitiveness. Imagine one of the most intense guys in baseball toeing the rubber for a team motivated to win the World Series after coming up achingly close last season?

Scherzer's comments are interesting because they give fans an illustration about the closeness of the locker room and he was welcomed back with open arms when he got to camp. There aren't any analytics which can measure that hugely important aspect of baseball.

Some cynics remarked that the only reason Shane Bieber exercised his 2026 player option was because of concerns about his pitching availability. Fortunately, it also appears that Bieber wanted to be part of Toronto's amazing clubhouse culture.

"Last year was the most fun I've ever had. The bonds that we were able to forge within that locker room," Bieber also explained on the Foul Territory podcast.

These guys all have something to prove. Bieber wants to prove he can stay healthy. Cody Ponce wants to prove that his numbers in the KBO aren't a fluke. Yesavage wants to prove that he can be a trusted ace and Kevin Gausman wants to show that he has at least one more excellent season left. Berrios needs to show that he has moved beyond his ugly 2025 ending. Eric Lauer wants to prove that he should be starting and making more money.

Scherzer will be part of a rotation that features health question marks at the outset of the regular season. Still, there is a common goal among these guys, and Scherzer wants another bite at the apple. Credit to the Blue Jays and Scherzer for making this marriage possible again.