MLB insider predicts that Blue Jays will swap Max Scherzer for Justin Verlander

According to insider Anthony Castrovince, the answer is a resounding yes.

In a recent column for MLB.com, Castrovince makes several bold 'Hot Stove' predictions for the upcoming offseason.

While he has Bo Bichette re-signing with the Blue Jays, he also has the Dodgers landing Kyle Tucker

Then there is the rumour about Max Scherzer.

Castrovince claims that Scherzer will switch places with Justin Verlander

Like Mad Max, Verlander is a 40+ future Hall of Famer in the twilight of his career.

While his 2025 season wasn't the best, he went 4-11 while posting a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts, he proved to be more valuable and durable than Scherzer.

This is not the first time that a Verlander-to-the-Blue Jays prediction has made the rumor mill; there were rumblings of it last year.

And while it's slightly more plausible than last year, it still doesn't feel like a realistic outcome.

Castrovince's prediction isn't without logic though. Scherzer played for new San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello while at the University of Missouri, and Verlander would love to chase one more title, and has a better chance of doing with the Jays than with San Francisco.

While much of the offseason rumor mill has connected Toronto to relief pitchers like Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez, the Blue Jays are in need of another starting pitcher, following the free agencies of both Scherzer and fellow starter Chis Bassitt.

While Verlander would be a short-term solution, and would likely garner a similar one-year deal to the one Scherzer signed prior to the 2025 season, he could act a realistic bridge between the 2026 and 2027 rotations.

But it probably doesn't happen.