Max Scherzer isn’t ready to close the book just yet.
The veteran right-hander told Jon Heyman of the New York Post that he plans to pitch in “lockout games” this offseason as he tries to determine whether he’ll be back in 2027. For a pitcher who has spent his career pushing limits, the idea of one more run still has some pull.
Scherzer’s final start with the Blue Jays had the look and feel of a possible farewell. With his family in the stands, he went seven innings and allowed one run while striking out seven against the Reds. Toronto’s crowd was locked in on him the whole way, and the outing came on short rest in a game that didn’t matter in the standings.
There was also a clear individual chase in play. Scherzer appeared to be hunting longtime rival Justin Verlander on the all-time strikeout list.
He finished with 3,557 strikeouts, leaving him three behind Verlander after those seven punchouts. For most pitchers, moving from ninth to eighth on that list would be enough to call it a career.
Scherzer has never really operated like most pitchers.
Health, though, has been a real issue in his age-41 season. He missed time with forearm, ankle, and back injuries, and wound up with 84 2/3 innings across the IL stints, almost the same workload he posted in his 2025 season with Toronto.
The numbers overall weren’t pretty. Scherzer finished with a 5.74 ERA in 18 starts, and the underlying metrics were rough too, with a 5.19 xFIP and a 5.01 SIERA.
Still, his season ended on a better note than it began. After returning from back spasms in late July, he put together a final stretch of 12 starts with a 4.16 ERA.
The indicators were mixed there as well - a 3.56 xERA, but a 4.81 xFIP and 4.69 SIERA - yet it was enough to leave open the possibility that there’s still something left for an age-42 season.
Scherzer also didn’t sign until March last time, joining a Blue Jays club already dealing with rotation uncertainty because of injuries. Toronto’s rotation health situation turned into a mess. A lockout would obviously change the calendar, but if Scherzer does keep going, the setup could look similar: wait, assess, then find a starter-needy team late in the offseason.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Just Earned Recognition That Says Plenty About This Roster
The Blue Jays added another piece of hardware to a season that already says plenty about how this roster is built, earning the American League team Gold Glove award as one of the game's steadiest defensive clubs. Around the league, the Cubs and Yankees had their own defensive standouts recognized on the individual side, with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cody Bellinger taking home Platinum Glove honors in their respective leagues.
For Toronto, the team award matters because it reflects the kind of run prevention that can carry a club through a long season even when the spotlight lands elsewhere. It also underscores how much value the Blue Jays placed on defense across the roster, even in a year when they did not have an individual Gold Glove winner to point to. [Read more 🡒]
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Cease put together a strong enough 2026 to land among the leagues top starters, while Varland emerged as one of the most reliable late-inning options in the game. The awards will be announced Nov. 11, and Toronto will be watching closely, even if the teams lack of a playoff berth could make the voting harder to navigate than the performances themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Prospect Aaron Parker Is Creating A Tough Roster Question
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The wrinkle for Toronto is that Parker is no longer just a bat-only prospect trying to survive at one position. He has started getting looks in left field and has also spent time at designated hitter, which gives the organization more ways to think about him if the offense keeps coming. He is still a long shot to reach the majors in 2027, but the combination of power and improved strike-zone control is creating a roster question the Blue Jays did not have to ask about him a year ago. [Read more 🡒]