Jon Heyman: Max Scherzer 'most likely going to Blue Jays'
Photo credit: MLB.com
MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post appeared on MLB Metworks Hot Stove and predicted that future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer would sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I think he basically told them 'Look, I want to win - you guys won 74 games last year, let's see what the roster is before I decide what I wanna do,'" Heyman said. "I don't think it's the millions that are gonna decide what he wants to do, he wants to go to a winner. If they sign (Pete) Alonso, that's a pretty good middle of the order. I think they underachieved at 74 wins, anyway, and they certainly are a contender. So I think Toronto is probably the most likely team for Scherzer at this point." - Jon Heyman
2024 was perhaps the least-noteworthy of Scherzer's 17 MLB seasons, as he pitched a career-low 43 1/3 innings.
Scherzer underwent back surgery last offseason and was expected to miss at least a bit of time at the start of the 2024 campaign while recovering, but subsequent issues with nerve irritation in his triceps, shoulder fatigue, and a hamstring strain resulted in what was pretty close to a lost season for both Scherzer and the Rangers as a whole.
While the right-hander has generally been quite durable over his long career, it also wouldn't be a surprise if the long grind of 2878 big league innings has finally caught up to Scherzer now that he has passed his 40th birthday.
Injuries notwithstanding, Scherzer was still able to post a respectable 3.95 ERA last season.
His walk and chase rates were both excellent in his small sample size of 43 1/3 frames, though that great chase rate manifested itself into only a modest 22.6% strikeout rate.
The eight-time All-Star has three Cy Young Awards under his belt - not to mention his five other top-five finishes - with a 3.16 ERA, 1.078 WHIP and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Scherzer also had a 3.77 ERA over 152 2/3 innings with the Mets and Rangers in 2023, which could be a better reflection of what might be reasonably expected from a healthy Scherzer at this late stage in his career - a solid mid-rotation starter who can still dial up some of his old magic every once in a while.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 22 | 327 ANSWERS Jon Heyman: Max Scherzer 'most likely going to Blue Jays' Would Max Scherzer be a good addition to the Blue Jays rotation or is he over the hill? | ||
| Yes he would be great! | 197 | 60.2 % |
| No he is over the hill. | 130 | 39.8 % |
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