Toronto Blue Jays

Max Scherzer can earn up to $325,000 in incentives from his one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Heyman provided a list of the individual triggers, the biggest of which hinges on Scherzer winning a fourth Cy Young award:

There's a pretty good chance the right-hander fails to hit any of those bonuses.

Toronto is projected by PECOTA to finish third in the American League East and tally 85 wins. Having added Scherzer, outfielder Anthony Santander and second baseman Andrés Giménez, the Blue Jays should be a little better but don't look like a serious championship contender.

Scherzer, meanwhile, hasn't made an All-Star team or received Cy Young votes since 2021.

The 40-year-old finally started to show his age in 2023, going 13-6 with a 3.77 ERA but a 4.32 FIP in 27 starts before going down with a muscle strain. In 2024, he was limited to nine appearances thanks to a variety of injuries.

Taking a one-year flier on Scherzer made sense for the Blue Jays. They had plenty of cash to burn after striking out in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, and the 2023 version of him was still good enough to be a mid-rotation starter.

And a total outlay of less than $16 million will be a massive bargain should Scherzer have one more elite season left in the tank.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will look to rebound in 2025 after reportedly agreeing to a new one-year, $15.5 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The 40-year-old is coming off the worst season of his career.

He didn't make his 2024 debut until mid-June thanks to offseason surgery on a herniated disc and then a nerve problem in his right arm. Then he was sidelined in August due to right shoulder fatigue.

Scherzer wound up logging just 43.1 innings, going 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA and a 4.18 FIP.

The right-hander has nothing to prove at this point. An eight-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion, he's in all likelihood headed for the Hall of Fame and could go in on the first ballot.

But Scherzer made it clear to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant in August he wanted to keep going for another year.

"When I'm out there, I've been able to compete," he said. "I can still pitch at a high level. I look at things like my slider, which I went into the season wanting to fix, and it's been really good. I still see myself as able to compete and win."

If anything, having such a disappointing campaign might've motivated him to stick around and end his time on the mound on a relative high point rather than walk away now.

As you'd expect, the advanced numbers from 2024 aren't kind to Scherzer.

According to Baseball Savant, his .248 expected batting average and .408 expected slugging percentage were both his second-highest dating back to 2015. He also had his lowest strikeout rate (22.6 percent) and had a whiff rate (29.2 percent) below his career average. His four-seam fastball averaged just 92.5 mph as well.

Those numbers require plenty of caveats thanks to Scherzer having his offseason preparations disrupted and putting together such a small sample before another arm issue arose.

Injuries haven't been a common theme across his MLB run, either. Excluding the pandemic-shortened season in 2020, he threw at least 140 innings every year between 2009 and 2023.

There was little doubt about Scherzer's ability to land on his feet with the Rangers or another team this winter. He has earned the benefit of the doubt to prove he remains an effective starting pitcher.

The Blue Jays being the one to give him a chance is a little surprising, though, when they aren't shaping up to be a major contender in the American League East. They lost 88 games in 2024 and haven't made any significant upgrades after trying and failing to sign Juan Soto, Rōki Sasaki and Corbin Burnes.

But this might be the last season Toronto has a playoff window of any kind with stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette becoming free agents next winter. In that sense, signing Scherzer is a gambit that aligns with the franchise's priorities now and carries no long-term commitments.

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly very interested in signing a veteran starting pitcher in free agency.

Per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Blue Jays "appear to be the most serious about signing" Max Scherzer.

"Toronto has been hot for him for about two months," one source said. "[The Blue Jays] certainly feel like the favorites to get him."

Scherzer, 40, has been with the Texas Rangers since 2023 after he was traded midseason from the New York Mets.

His time in Texas saw him deal with a handful of injuries. He suffered a teres major strain in September of 2023, ending his regular season prematurely. He managed to get back on the field for the postseason and appeared in three games as the Rangers won the World Series.

After an offseason back surgery ahead of last season, Scherzer managed a handful of injuries that limited him to just nine games. He posted a 3.95 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, picking up 40 strikeouts across 43.1 innings.

While the three-time Cy Young Award winner hasn't been at his best recently, a source told Feinsand that he looked good when he threw in front of an unspecified number of teams recently.

"He looked like Max Scherzer," a source said. "His Cy Young days are definitely behind him, but he's still good enough to be an effective starter."

It's hard to say whether Scherzer would turn Toronto into a contender after the Blue Jays missed out on stars such as Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki, but he could certainly bolster a rotation that consists of Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt, among others.

Feindsand noted that veteran pitchers Alex Cobb and Justin Verlander signing one-year deals worth $15 million is a good measuring block for what kind of contract Scherzer could get. A price like that seems to be a figure the Blue Jays are willing to pay to improve the roster further after signing Anthony Santander, Jeff Hoffman, Yimi García for more than $140 million.

Negotiations between free-agent slugger Pete Alonso and the Toronto Blue Jays are "advancing," according to SNY's Andy Martino.

Tim Healey of Newsday added the two sides were "deep" in contract talks.

However, Martino noted that an agreement is "not done yet" and there is "no guarantee" that it will be reached, though. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet also countered the initial reporting, saying talks were "not gaining momentum."

Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported on Jan. 16 that Alonso's camp rejected a straight three-year contract offer from the New York Mets after proposing a three-year deal with "a high average annual value and opt-outs" to his former team.

Martino previously reported on Jan. 16 that the Mets "expect that Alonso will sign elsewhere" after the two sides weren't able to find common ground on the amount of "years and dollars" in a new contract.

The 30-year-old is coming off a 2024 season in which he posted a career-low .788 OPS, but he still showcased his consistent power at the plate. Alonso played in all 162 games, recording 34 home runs and 88 RBIs to go along with a .240/.329/.459 slash line.

He stepped up in the postseason as the Mets made a National League Championship Series appearance, hitting .273 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 13 games throughout New York's run.

Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been the subject of trade rumors as he's projected to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025 season, with Martino revealing that the Mets have been "checking in" on his availability.

That doesn't necessarily mean that a blockbuster trade will materialize if Alonso joins Toronto, though. The Blue Jays would still prefer to keep Guerrero if they can sign the former Mets slugger, per Rosenthal and Sammon.

Toronto has focused on adding power to its lineup throughout the offseason, signing All-Star outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year contract worth $92.5 million on Monday.

The Blue Jays appear to be in discussions with Alonso as well.

The Toronto Blue Jays' meeting with Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki included shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder Daulton Varsho and reliever Chad Green, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

The three Blue Jays players flew in to Toronto to aid in the organization's quest to sign Sasaki, which proved unsuccessful as he chose the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nicholson-Smith added that simply getting a meeting with Sasaki underlined a long process by Toronto to improve its network in Japan.

"But thanks in large part to the dedicated work of Pacific Rim coordinator Hideaki Sato, the Blue Jays got Sasaki's attention," he said. "Those efforts were also driven forward by longtime front office execs Andrew Tinnish and Ryan Mittleman plus Frank Herrmann, the former MLB pitcher who pitched with Sasaki in Japan before joining the Blue Jays as a pitching acquisitions specialist. This was a project that took years of focused work."

A report from The Athletic detailed the chase for Sasaki and noted how the Blue Jays' advancement to the finalist stage "puzzled executives throughout the sport."

"Though Sasaki's marketing potential could be enormous throughout Canada, the Blue Jays are not regarded within the industry as a team that excels at pitching development," the report read. "Toronto's front office is on the hot seat and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can become a free agent after this season, adding to the instability. Yet, they endured in the sweepstakes, despite Sasaki narrowing down his choices."

As much as the Blue Jays can take solace from reaching that stage, failing to sign Sasaki carries a figurative and literal cost for Toronto.

At a certain point, chasing top stars becomes counterproductive when you consistently fail to seal the deal. Your fanbase becomes demoralized and people outside of your home market take those free-agent pursuits less and less seriously.

The Blue Jays will also have the Myles Straw trade as a lasting reminder of the Sasaki sweepstakes. Toronto acquired Straw from the Cleveland Guardians to gain $2 million more in international bonus pool money, which was intended for the Japanese ace.

General manager Ross Atkins pulled off that deal without any assurances from Sasaki's agent, so now the Jays are saddled with nearly $12 million in outstanding salary for Straw, a 30-year-old with a career .308 slugging percentage.

Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star called the Straw trade "staggering" and "a fireable offence." He also criticized the message it sends when Toronto is willing to take on $12 million in the mere hope of landing Sasaki while the same front office played hardball with four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over what amounted to $1.85 million.

In general, it's odd how the Blue Jays' aggressive approach toward outside talent doesn't carry over to their homegrown stars.

To the extent Toronto can feel good about the progress it's making toward luring international stars north of the border, Sasaki signing with the Dodgers showed how much work is still ahead.

Right-hander Max Scherzer is drawing interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.

The team is also reportedly looking to add a superstar slugger, with names like Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander being considered.

Adding a slugger would make Toronto a more attractive destination for Scherzer, a 40-year-old future Hall of Famer who has spent the last two seasons with Texas, posting a 3.95 ERA and a 1.154 WHIP last season.

The Blue Jays recently missed out on signing superstar Rōki Sasaki, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite efforts from players like Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho and Chad Green, who tried to pitch Toronto to Sasaki last week.

Now, the Blue Jays are shifting gears and focusing on signing Scherzer.

General manager Ross Atkins has been keeping tabs on everyone, with the Blue Jays being linked to several free agents this offseason, per MLB Trade Rumors' Mark Polishuk. Scherzer would be a solid addition to their rotation and offers potential buy-low opportunities given his track record.

Scherzer appeared in just nine games last season with the Texas Rangers, pitching a career-low 43 1/3 innings after undergoing back surgery last offseason. Additionally, the 17-year veteran dealt with a series of injuries, including nerve irritation in his triceps, shoulder fatigue and a hamstring strain, which sidelined him for much of the season, per Polishuk.

In addition to the potential boost from Scherzer, the Blue Jays signed relievers Jeff Hoffman and Yimi Garcia to multiyear deals during the offseason.

Toronto has faced challenges in landing top targets, having experienced very public misses in their pursuits of Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Sasaki and several other high-profile free agents. But now, the team will see if it can potentially land Scherzer.

The Toronto Blue Jays want a large trade package if the team chooses to move star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

"To even think about trading Guerrero, a package would have to include major leaguers and top prospects and exceed the value the San Diego Padres received from the New York Yankees for Soto, league sources said," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote on Thursday.

The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from the Padres in Dec. 2023, sending out right-handed pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez. They also dealt starting pitching prospect Drew Thorpe as well as catcher Kyle Higashioka.

King finished No. 7 in National League Cy Young Award voting during his first year in San Diego, while Thorpe was included as part of a trade for ace right-hander Dylan Cease in March 2024.

Guerrero is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season, avoiding arbitration by agreeing to a $28.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Jan. 9.

SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday that the New York Mets have spoken to Toronto regarding a potential Guerrero move, but he noted it's "far from certain" that the Blue Jays will make the four-time All-Star available on the trade market.

If they do, the asking price seems to be very high.

Guerrero is coming off an impressive 2024 season, racking up 30 home runs and 103 RBIs to go along with a .323/.396/.544 slash line. He's firmly established himself as one of the top power hitters in the majors, recording 136 homers over the past four years.

A long-term extension with the Blue Jays isn't out of the question, as Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Thursday that Toronto and Guerrero are "actively negotiating" a new contract.

Discussions are expected to "accelerate" before Guerrero's self-imposed extension deadline of Feb. 17, per Rosenthal and Sammon.

For the Blue Jays to consider trading the first baseman before the regular season, they'd need to receive a massive offer from an opposing front office.

The New York Mets have reportedly "checked in" on Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s trade availability, but the first baseman might not be going anywhere this offseason.

Per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays and Guerrero are "actively negotiating" an extension, meaning the Mets landing him in a trade could be "wishful thinking" for New York.

Nicholson-Smith also noted that the Mets' reported push to land Guerrero is "possibly an attempt to gain leverage on Pete Alonso."

Alonso, a free agent, has reportedly received interest from a handful of teams, one of which is the Blue Jays, per Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Sammon and Rosenthal also noted that the pursuit of Alonso doesn't rule out signing Guerrero to a long-term deal as Toronto would prefer to pair the two first basemen together.

SNY's Andy Martino reported on Thursday that the Mets "have pivoted to plan B, post-Alonso" and expect the star to sign elsewhere. With the Blue Jays and Guerrero reportedly actively in contract talks, we'll see if New York decides to make another push for Alonso.

Guerrero, who has been with the Blue Jays his entire career, has been seeking a long-term deal from Toronto for a while now but has yet to land it. Earlier this month, Guerrero and the Blue Jays agreed to a $28.5 million salary for 2025, avoiding arbitration with the third-highest salary paid to an arbitration-eligible player in MLB history.

Even though the two sides avoided arbitration and are seemingly still working on an extension, Guerrero's future in Toronto is far from guaranteed. Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Guerrero is seeking "at least" $450 million and he and the Blue Jays are "at least $100 million apart."

Nightengale also noted that if he doesn't land an extension by spring training, he'll test free agency.

Guerrero, 25, is coming off a season in which he finished sixth in AL MVP voting after hitting .323/.396/.544 with 30 homers and 103 RBI in 159 games.

As there still appears to be an impasse between the New York Mets and free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso, other teams are reportedly starting to make a push to sign him.

According to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the market for Alonso "is heating up, with three teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, engaged in discussions for the power-hitting first baseman, league sources said."

Interestingly, SNY's Andy Martino reported on Wednesday that the Mets had a conversation with the Blue Jays "checking in" on the availability of first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

However, Sammon and Rosenthal noted that Toronto's pursuit of Alonso doesn't mean that the team is ready to part ways with Guerrero, as the more intriguing option would be to pair them up as a power-hitting duo.

"If the Blue Jays landed Alonso, they'd still prefer to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a person familiar with the club's thinking said. Guerrero played 12 games at third base last year, and he and Alonso could serve as the club's designated hitters," Sammon and Rosenthal stated.

The Blue Jays have struggled to make a splash in free agency this offseason despite their attempts to land a big-name player. Toronto tried to sign star outfielder Juan Soto before the Mets landed him on a historic 15-year, $765 million deal.

However, the tides appear to be turning for the Blue Jays, as they recently signed All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal. Toronto is also reportedly one of three finalists for Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Adding Alonso would give the Blue Jays the big bat they've been seeking for quite some time, so it can be expected that they will be aggressive in their chase to sign him.

Alex Bregman could be suiting up for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2025 season.

ESPN's Buster Olney wrote about the Bregman market Thursday and noted a league executive speculated the American League East team is "in position to offer the most money, given their level of desperation."

Olney reported that some around the league believe the market for the free agent third baseman "has been largely defined" after the San Francisco Giants signed Matt Chapman to a six-year, $156 million deal and the Houston Astros offered Bregman something similar. He listed the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers as other teams with "varying degrees of interest."

Perhaps Bregman will look for a shorter contract that offers more average annual money if he wants more teams to enter the pursuit.

On Tuesday, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported the Chicago Cubs had "casual conversations with Bregman's agent, Scott Boras" but were not interested in a long-term deal for the 30-year-old.

Levine suggested Chicago could sign Bregman to a three-year deal with opt-outs and more money per season than he would get with a longer contract elsewhere.

Bregman is an interesting free agent this offseason, as his resume stands out but there has been some statistical decline ahead of his 31st birthday in March. The two-time World Series champion and two-time All-Star was among the very best players in the league when he finished second in American League MVP voting in 2019.

He slashed .296/.423/.592 with 41 home runs, 112 RBI and a league-best 119 walks that season while taking home a Silver Slugger. By comparison, he slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI last season.

However, Bregman won his first career Gold Glove in 2024 and is still an impressive two-way player who figures to compete for All-Star selections in the immediate future.

Toronto seems best positioned to offer the most money for that production, and it will be up to him to decide where he wants to play in 2025 and beyond.