This veteran may not offer much value after all
Max Scherzer’s 2025 season for the Toronto Blue Jays was definitely a rocky one. After an up-and-down regular season, Scherzer had a steady 2025 postseason to redeem himself.
The 41-year-old started three games in the playoffs. Scherzer’s last game was a stinger with him starting Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, but the Blue Jays couldn’t win for him. Even after defeat, Scherzer has already made it clear he wants another ring before he retires. The Blue Jays could be the team to give him another chance at a World Series ring as the defending AL Champions.
However, given his age and the way his 2025 season went, the Blue Jays may be uncertain about bringing Scherzer back. According to Bleacher Report, Scherzer may not have the greatest value for this free agency.
Mad Max has ‘bust’ written on him for free agency
Recently, Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly wrote an article titled “7 MLB Free Agents With the Highest Bust Potential.” Scherzer was one of the seven free agents that Kelly named in his article to be a bust.
“Man, it was cool watching Max Scherzer turn back the clock in the postseason and take down meaningful innings for a Toronto Blue Jays team that nearly won the World Series,” Kelly said. “That doesn’t mean, however, that he’s a wise bet moving forward.”
Scherzer was solid in his three postseason starts. Overall, Scherzer recorded a 3.77 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched. Scherzer’s most iconic moment from 2025 was in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners when he demanded to manager John Schneider to keep him in the game. Even with a steady postseason, Scherzer’s regular season wasn’t the best. Scherzer dealt with injuries and only started 17 games for the Blue Jays in 2025.
Scherzer had a 5-5 record with a 5.19 ERA in 85 innings pitched. In a stat that might sound shocking, Scherzer’s 5.19 ERA was the highest in his career for a single season. That says a lot given the fact Scherzer has pitched in MLB since 2008.
The Blue Jays have Scherzer and Chris Bassitt as free agents this offseason. While the Blue Jays do have young rookie Trey Yesavage and veteran Shane Bieber returning in 2026, this is where signing Scherzer may not be that critical. After all, Bassitt’s 2025 season was better than Scherzer’s. “But the reality is before the playoffs, his time north of the border was viewed as a disaster,” Kelly said. “Whoever signs him for 2026 is much more likely to get that version of him.”
At this point in his career, Scherzer’s value might not be that high. Another one-year deal might be the way to go for Scherzer, but the Blue Jays couldn’t always trust him in the regular season.
