The Toronto Blue Jays welcomed future first-ballot Corridor of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer to the American League East on Thursday.
Toronto signed Scherzer to a one-year, $15 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, however the Blue Jays weren’t alone of their pursuit of the three-time Cy Younger Award winner. A number of groups, together with the Boston Crimson Sox, attended a current exercise Scherzer held in entrance of scouts and different workforce representatives, per Sports activities Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo.
In the end, the curiosity Boston expressed didn’t ship Scherzer to the Crimson Sox however the 40-year-old wasn’t a crucial goal both.
Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow re-polished the whole pitching employees already, first by bettering the bullpen via newcomers Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman. The hassle continued when the Crimson Sox traded 4 prospects for Garrett Crochet after which snagged fellow beginning pitchers Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval from free company to reinforce the depth. This allowed for Garrett Whitlock’s return to the bullpen and made it pretty pointless to submit a Scherzer bid.
Rumors suggesting Scherzer would take into account a bullpen function had been rapidly shut down by MLB Community’s Jon Morosi and if something, the right-hander’s settlement to hitch Toronto helps the report much more. Scherzer will pitch alongside Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt in a employees liable for permitting the second-most dwelling runs (208) in baseball final season — and probably the most within the American League.
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That’s no minor function, whilst Scherzer approaches 41 years of age in July.
The Blue Jays threw their eggs in almost each premier free agent’s basket this offseason, swinging and lacking at possibilities to signal Juan Soto, Max Fried, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki. This time, Toronto didn’t fail utterly and as a substitute landed outfielder Anthony Santander, recent off belting a career-high 44 dwelling runs in 2024, on a five-year, $92.5 million contract.
It’s clear Toronto isn’t settling for an additional division standings plummet in 2025, although the previous two offseasons have been tough for the franchise.
Scherzer, just like the Blue Jays, can also be on the hunt for redemption in 2025. The eight-time All-Star reached the mountaintop with the Texas Rangers in 2023 as a World Collection champion for the second time in his profession, nevertheless it wasn’t a clean two-year stint by any measure. Scherzer made 17 begins in two years with Texas, anchored by accidents together with arm fatigue and nerve points all through 2024.
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He went 2-4 throughout 9 begins and recorded a 3.95 ERA in 43 1/3 innings thrown.
The Crimson Sox will cross paths with Scherzer and the Blue Jays 13 instances all through the upcoming 2025 marketing campaign and battle to make it out of the AL East with a playoff spot secured by October.
