The Toronto Blue Jays are making waves in the MLB offseason, as they've ramped up efforts to bring back veteran pitcher Max Scherzer. Over the past week, discussions between Scherzer and the Blue Jays have gained momentum, signaling Toronto's strong interest in securing him on a potential one-year deal.
While other teams are still in the hunt for Scherzer, it seems the Blue Jays are leading the charge. The connection between Scherzer and Toronto has been buzzing since early February, even though the team’s starting rotation is already stacked.
The Blue Jays' rotation is projected to feature Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Cody Ponce. Adding a twist to the mix, Shane Bieber is being eased into spring training due to forearm fatigue, and Bowden Francis is out for the season following Tommy John surgery.
Scherzer's performance last season was a bit of a rollercoaster. He recorded a 5.19 ERA over 17 starts with the Blue Jays but reminded everyone of his prowess in August, posting a 3.34 ERA in six starts. At 41, Scherzer also proved his mettle in the postseason, giving up just six earned runs in three crucial games against the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
For the Blue Jays, bringing Scherzer back could be a strategic move to bolster their pitching depth, especially with some uncertainty in their rotation. If Scherzer can channel his late-season form, he might just be the X-factor Toronto needs to make another deep playoff run.