The Toronto Blue Jays are three wins away from their first World Series since 1993. Despite being in the middle of trying to win a championship, players such as Max Scherzer also need to keep an eye on their future.
The right-hander has worn seven different jerseys during his 18 years in Major League Baseball, including five in the last five years. Even with a rocky regular-season performance, the Blue Jays trusted Scherzer enough to hand him the ball for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.
Playing on a one-year contract, Monday night may be the veteran’s last opportunity to make an impact for a World Series club. Or will it be?
Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer Wants to Continue Playing
Scherzer had a difficult season with Toronto, one marked by adversity. He missed an extended period of time during the regular season with a thumb injury and managed to make just 17 starts.
His performance in Game 4 of the ALCS displayed that he is now fully healthy and ready to make a difference. In an 8-2 win, Scherzer threw 5.2 innings of two-run ball, striking out five in the process. Scherzer shouted at John Schneider, Toronto’s manager, to stay in the game with one out to go in the bottom of the fourth. Schneider obeyed Scherzer’s wish and watched his starter strike out Randy Arozarena swinging to end the inning.
That moment on the mound between Scherzer and Schneider showcased the right-hander’s competitive edge, something that helped him earn the nickname “Mad Max” throughout his playing career. He told MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince he wants to continue playing past 2025, another example of how his spark for baseball is yet to abandon him.
âAs long as I can be a starter on a championship-caliber team, I want to keep playing,” Scherzer told reporters, including Castrovince, about the future of his career. “If my body’s healthy, I want to keep playing. And ever since I got over this thumb issue, it really kind of put a jolt in me that I can still pitch at this level.â
Will Max Scherzer Have Many Teams’ Interest?
At 40, Scherzer was the fourth-oldest player on an Opening Day roster this year. In front of him were starters Justin Verlander (42) and Charlie Morton (41), and first baseman Yuli Gurriel (40). He turned 41 on July 27.
He posted a career-worst 5.19 ERA with 19 home runs allowed in 85 innings. Scherzer averaged 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings, and his fastball occasionally touches 95 mph on the radar gun.
“Given the three-time Cy Young winner’s credentials and continued ability to miss bats, he’ll probably have interest on the market,” wrote Dayn Perry of CBS Sports. “Scherzer’s tone suggests he’d certainly like to continue pitching, and he seems likely to have that opportunity for 2026. First, though, comes the matter of trying to win his third World Series ring.”
Scherzer won his first World Series ring in 2019 with the Washington Nationals and his second with the Texas Rangers in 2023. This week, he would love to hoist the championship trophy for the third time in his long, illustrious career. A career that might not be over quite yet.
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