John Schneider shares thoughts on Blue Jays reunion with Max Scherzer, role going forward
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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider spoke to the media about having Max Scherzer back in the fold and when he will be arriving at Spring Training.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider addressed reporters Thursday to discuss Max Scherzer's return and outline what the next few weeks could look like as the veteran right-hander prepares to rejoin the club at Spring Training.
Scherzer signed a one-year, $3-million deal loaded with incentives, officially putting him back in a Blue Jays uniform for 2026.
For the 41-year-old, the decision to return to Toronto was an easy one.
«Obviously, Toronto was definitely a team that I wanted to come back to and I absolutely loved all the guys and what we did last year,» Scherzer said Thursday on Blair and Barker. «It was a great fit for not just myself, but my family as well.»
Family played a meaningful role in the decision
Scherzer's eight-year-old daughter famously wrote the Blue Jays a letter in December urging them to bring her dad back to Toronto, a gesture that tugged at the veteran's heartstrings.
While baseball considerations ultimately drove the move, the comfort level he and his family feel in the city clearly mattered.
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith, Schneider is equally pleased to have the future Hall of Famer back in the clubhouse.
«Glad we were able to work out a deal,» Schneider told Nicholson-Smith. «We know him and he can still help us win games. All the other stuff he does, too, everyone appreciates. I appreciate it. Hopefully he passes a physical and we're looking forward to having him.»
With Scherzer returning, attention now turns to how he fits into the 2026 pitching staff.
The Blue Jays currently have six healthy rotation options, giving the club flexibility and eliminating any urgency to rush him into game action.
If his season debut comes a few weeks after Opening Day, Toronto appears comfortable with that timeline.
That said, nothing has been ruled out. Scherzer has already been throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters in live batting practice, suggesting he is well underway in his preparation.
«We'll see,» the manager said. «He's keeping himself ready, so we'll have to sit down, look at what the rest of the calendar for spring looks like and go from there. One of the things we do know about him is he's very particular about routines, so we'll hash that out when he gets here.»
While Scherzer has spent his entire career as a starter and is expected to build toward that role again, team sources indicate there are no guarantees.
The Blue Jays plan to treat the rotation as a meritocracy, and if Scherzer struggles, a spot will have to be earned, not handed to him.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 27|119 ANSWERS John Schneider shares thoughts on Blue Jays reunion with Max Scherzer, role going forward Do you think 41 year-old Max Scherzer will have a better regular season now that he's healthy again? | ||
| Yes | 95 | 79.8 % |
| No | 6 | 5 % |
| Too early to tell | 18 | 15.1 % |
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