Matt SullivanWed, December 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM UTC·2 min readFormer MLB GM reveals Max Scherzer's Blue Jays free agent wish originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the most active teams in free agency so far this winter. They've signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, and Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBoth of those deals are big commitments to pitchers to bolster the pitching staff after a World Series run. Cease and Ponce are big contracts, but for one player, it's some bad news.
According to former MLB GM Jim Bowden of The Athletic, top Blue Jays free agent Max Scherzer has a clear wish this free agent cycle. Unfortunately for Scherzer, the $240 million allocated to Cease and Ponce is some bad news.
Max Scherzer's Blue Jays wish might not come true
"It sounds like Scherzer would like to return to the Blue Jays if they'll have him," Bowden writes. "But if not, most in the industry believe he'll end up on a one-year deal with the Giants."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScherzer wants to return to the Blue Jays, but with the massive amount of money dished out to Cease and Ponce to round out the starting rotation, Scherzer's spot on the roster is gone.
The Blue Jays could trade one of their starters, like Jose Berrios, and bring back Scherzer on a one-year deal. But, for now, it looks like Scherzer is going elsewhere.
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Toronto is spending big this winter, but after $240 million invested into the rotation already, on top of a crowded room, makes Scherzer's future in Toronto unlikely.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 41-year-old, and future Hall of Famer, is likely to sign with another team this offseason. His 5.19 ERA in 17 games for the Blue Jays and 3.77 ERA in three games in the postseason helped Toronto make the World Series.
It was a great signing for both sides, but now, his time in Toronto looks to be up, thanks to the $30 million given to Ponce and $210 million given to Cease.
The San Francisco Giants are reportedly his most likely destination, which, based on the Blue Jays' likely lack of interest, seems to be his landing spot this winter.
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