Scherzer returns to Blue Jays on reported 1-year, $3M deal

Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer confirmed Thursday that he's coming back to the Toronto Blue Jays for his 19th season in the majors.

"Toronto was definitely a team I wanted to come back to and join," Scherzer told Sportsnet 590's "Blair and Barker" show. "Absolutely loved all the guys and what we did last year. It was a great fit not just for me, but for my family as well."

Scherzer agreed to a one-year pact with a $3-million base salary that's worth up to $10 million in incentives, reports Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.

The 41-year-old is expected to be in the Blue Jays camp this weekend and has already been throwing bullpen sessions, manager John Schneider said, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.

Scherzer posted a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts for the Blue Jays last season. He showed flashes of previous form late in the campaign when he authored a 3.34 ERA in six August starts.

The right-hander made three outings in Toronto's postseason run to the World Series, including starts in Games 3 and 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer had a 3.77 ERA in 14 1/3 playoff innings.

Scherzer's wife, Erica, posted a letter on Instagram written by their eight-year-old daughter in December that asked the Blue Jays to bring her dad back for the 2026 season.

The Blue Jays adding Scherzer gives the defending AL champions another arm in what projects to be a very strong pitching staff. Toronto returns Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and José Berríos, and also signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce in free agency. Last year's midseason addition, Shane Bieber, has forearm fatigue and is ramping up this spring, while Bowden Francis will miss the entire campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

"The goal is to win," Schneider said Thursday when asked about the crowded rotation, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "The goal is to win right now, get back to where we were, and win the World Series this year. However we can make ourselves better, we're going to."

Scherzer is an eight-time MLB All-Star, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and a two-time World Series champion. He joined the Blue Jays in January 2025 on a one-year, $15.5-million contract.