No Blue Jay is happier about CB Bucknor's retirement than Max Scherzer

Six MLB umpires will be calling it quits after the 2026 season. Laz Díaz, Brian O'Nora, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson, Tony Randazzo, Andy Fletcher and perhaps most notably C.B. Bucknor. The 63-year-old Bucknor has been umpiring games at the MLB level since 1996 and since that time he has been notorious for making some egregious calls on an almost daily basis.

One player who might be the happiest about this news is Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Max Scherzer. The future Hall of Famer has had to deal with Bucknor for his entire career and an incident during a game at Rogers Centre in 2025 stands out as the future Hall of Famer was caught on video mocking Bucknor's calls.

During the game, the Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox were increasingly frustrated with Bucknor's strike zone. That lead to Scherzer making a coin flip gesture, mocking Bucknor's calls. The video was posted to X by Jomboy Media and became a viral sensation, sitting at 3.4 million views as the time of this writing.

Scherzer spoke about the incident on a Blue Jays podcast earlier this year that he was fined for those actions. He said, "No one knew where the strike zone was, on both sides, and so that game was very inconsistent… Of course, it got on TV and then I’ve got to get a suspension." He added that he issued a personal apology to Bucknor the next day.

No surprise retirement's announced with ABS system implemented

Many fans are pointing out that the group of umpires that are taking their buyouts are some of the more longer tenured umpires in the league, who aren't fairing to well with the implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System. Bucknor has had nine challenges with seven calls overturned, a 77.8% over turn rate which is the highest among all umpires.

He also hasn't worked a game since April 1, when he took a 100.2 mph fastball right into his face mask. The pitch was thrown by Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski during a game between the Brewers and the Tamp Bay Rays. It was Tampa catcher Nick Fortes who got a piece of it, but not enough as it hit off his bat and knocked over Bucknor after he bore the brunt of the ball. He stayed down for a little while, getting check on by the training staff, and was then removed from the game but he was able to get up on his own. Bucknor has continued to be sidelined for health reasons and that could be another indication as to why Bucknor will call it a day once the 2026 season concludes.

Of course, Scherzer could also be on the verge of hanging up his cleats as well. The 41-year-old has not had a great season for the Blue Jays and is working through his third injury of the year already.

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