It's not often that a three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion is roaming free agency as major league camps get underway.
But 41-year-old Max Scherzer is still without contract until 2026. He was almost done with his third World Series ring as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Insider Ken Rosenthal gives us the latest on Mad Max's free agency on the Foul Territory Podcast.
I talked to Max Scherzer... and he said he's looking to sign with the right team right now. He's ready to go, he's healthy, he's good. But he's not going to sign just like that any team Whoever offers him wants the right team. He has a few teams in mind. And if he doesn't get a good enough offer from one of those teams, he's willing to wait until the season starts.
But then Rosenthal suggested that a scenario that has already begun to unfold could see Mad Max land back in Toronto. Once injuries start to hit pitching staffs around the majors this spring, teams will start to get a little more desperate for some depth to their rotation.
And it just so happens that the Blue Jays have already suffered some setbacks. It was recently announced that Bowden Francis would undergo UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow. He suffered what is being described as a "serious injury" while throwing a pitch during the ramp-up to spring training.
Additionally, it was also revealed that Shane Bieber would begin the season on the injured list. His spring ramp-up will be delayed due to right forearm inflammation. Manager John Schneider said it had been bothering him since the end of the World Series.
Is a Max Scherzer reunion with the Blue Jays still possible?
Rosenthal says all this could mean that Jays may still be paying Scherzer for the calls.
You look at his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, a team he loved pitching for. They already have some problems with pitchers getting injured. Bowden Francis is out for the season. Shane Bieber, we knew something was wrong when he chose... exercised his player option.
So they have some physical concerns, and I'm sure at some point, if it becomes more intense for them, they will be more interested in Max Scherzer.
Of course, the Jays won't be the only team to deal with pitching injuries this spring or as the season begins. There is no guarantee of a Scherzer reunion. But the departure of another John Schneider & Co. employee could mean that the return of Mad Max isn't far off.
Scherzer had a difficult regular season in Toronto amid injuries and poor performance. His ERA in 17 starts was 5.19. But he came up big in the playoffs, posting a 3.77 ERA in three starts.
