The Toronto Blue Jays have already suffered two setbacks to their starting staff for the 2026 season. Bowden Francis is gone for the year as he’ll undergo Tommy John surgery. And Shane Bieber will start the season on the injured list for forearm soreness.
Enter: Mad Max?
According to a report on Friday from Blue Jays beat writer Ben Nicholson-Smith, talks between the Jays and free agent starter Max Scherzer have gotten “more serious” over the past week. Toronto is now the frontrunner to secure his services to have him run it back with the defending AL Champs.
Inklings of this type of scenario emerged earlier this week, when we shared a report from insider Ken Rosenthal, who suggested that a Scherzer return north of the border was something he could see happening.
Scherzer & Jays getting ‘serious’ in talks
Even Mad Max himself dropped some hints earlier in the offseason, continuously referring to the Jays as “we” in an interview, even though he was a free agent.
Scherzer, now 41, struggled to a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts last year in his first season with Toronto. But he delivered in the playoffs like a three-time Cy Young winner would be expected to, posting a 3.77 ERA in three starts.
It’s sounding like the good vibes of Scherzer and the Jays could have another run in 2026.
