Free agent Max Scherzer willing to sit out start of 2026 season to sign for preferred team

The future Hall of Famer was just a few outs away from capturing his third World Series championship before the Blue Jays ultimately fell to the Dodgers in November.

With the conclusion of the 2025 season, Max Scherzer found himself entering free agency for the third time in the past five years.

Now 41 and approaching his 42nd birthday in July, Scherzer is no longer the dominant ace he once was.

Still, the veteran right-hander believes he has plenty left to offer under the right circumstances.

Scherzer recently told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal that he is healthy and prepared to sign if the right opportunity arises.

He added that he would even consider waiting until after Opening Day to sign if it allowed him to join a preferred team.

While Scherzer did not specify which clubs he would favor, Rosenthal noted it's reasonable to assume the veteran will prioritize contenders with a legitimate chance to win the World Series as he nears the final stages of his career.

Waiting to sign always carries risk, but if Scherzer remains unsigned into the regular season, he could become an appealing midseason addition for a playoff hopeful in need of pitching depth.

Rosenthal likened the situation to Roger Clemens' final MLB season, when the longtime ace delayed signing until early May before joining the Yankees.

Clemens went on to throw 99 innings during his age-44 season, posting a 4.18 ERA and a 4.14 FIP-marks that represented the fifth-highest ERA of his 24-year career.

Scherzer is coming off a season in which he made 17 starts for Toronto, flashing his trademark dominance at times while also showing the wear expected from a pitcher in his early 40s with nearly 3,000 innings on his arm.

He finished the regular season with a 5.17 ERA and a 4.99 FIP but elevated his performance in October, recording a 3.77 ERA across three postseason starts against the Mariners and Dodgers.

Although Scherzer has expressed a willingness to wait for the right fit, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll still be on the market when Spring Training begins next month.

Scherzer did indicate that he felt like had unfinished business in Toronto in an interview in late November.

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