The San Francisco Giants may have finished the 2025 season with one of the top-ten pitching staff ERAs in Major League Baseball, but that might not stop them from pursuing Max Scherzer this offseason.
As MLB free agency gets underway, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal reports that many around the league expect the three-time Cy Young Award winner to land with the Giants, pairing him with recently-hired manager Tony Vitello, who coached Scherzer during his college days at Missouri.
Scherzer, 41, just put the finishing touches on his 18th big-league season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he started Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander looked strong over 4.1 innings, allowing just one run while striking out three before exiting the game with a 3-1 lead.
Toronto went on to lose in extra innings as the Dodgers claimed a second-straight title.
More on Free Agent pitcher Max Scherzer
Some in the industry expect Scherzer to land with the San Francisco Giants, reuniting with new manager Tony Vitello, his pitching coach at Missouri in the mid-2000s. A return to Toronto also might be an option.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on free agent pitcher Max Scherzer | November 10, 2025
Over three postseason starts this fall, Max Scherzer pitched to the tune of a 1-0 record and 3.77 ERA over three starts (one in the ALCS, two in the World Series).
The eight-time All-Star struggled in 2025, going 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA and striking out just 82 batters over 85 innings (17 starts).
Max Scherzer struggled with giving up the longball in 2025, posting a career-worst 5.3% HR rate–but playing at the pitcher-friendly Oracle Park could play in his favor if he signs with the Giants.
Similar to Scherzer, veteran pitcher Justin Verlander inked a deal with San Francisco last offseason after posting the worst HR rate of his career during the 2024 season with Houston. Verlander reduced his HR rate from 3.8 to 2.4 in 2025 while also reducing his ERA from 5.48 to 3.85 over 29 starts in orange and black.
Signing Max Scherzer won’t catapult the Giants into becoming World Series favorites, but it’s a low-risk, high-reward move that could bolster a starting rotation that already includes All-Stars Logan Webb and Robbie Ray at the top.
More San Francisco Giants content from Sactown Sports
The San Francisco Giants announced today that former manager Bruce Bochy has returned to the organization as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations. In his new role, Bochy will perform duties on both the baseball and business sides.
“We are thrilled to welcome Boch back to the Giants family as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations,” said Larry Baer, Giants President & CEO. “Few people in baseball have his depth of knowledge, insight, and lived experience of the game. He shares a rich history with our organization and fans, and it’s special to have him back in orange and black.”
“Having Boch back in the organization means a great deal to all of us,” said Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey. “His experience, leadership, and feel for the game are unmatched, and his perspective will be invaluable as we continue building towards sustained success.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to reconnect with the Giants organization and so many familiar faces,” said Bochy. “This organization and city mean a lot to me and my family, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute in any way I can.”
Bruce Bochy, 70, managed the Giants for 13 seasons (2007-2019) and guided the club to three World Series titles (2010, 2012, 2014). After retiring from managing in 2019, he worked as a Special Advisor for the Giants for three years (2020-2022) before accepting the job as Manager for the Texas Rangers.
In his first season as Texas’ manager, he guided the Rangers to the 2023 World Series championship. He parted ways with the Rangers following the 2025 season.
Bruce Bochy returns to SF Giants as Special Advisor to Baseball Ops
Upcoming San Francisco Giants & MLB Offseason Schedule
MLB Free Agency begins the day after the World Series concludes
December 7-11th – MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida
Mid-November – MLB Non-Tender Deadline
Early-January – MLB Arbitration Negotiations
Mid-February – Pitchers & Catchers report for Spring Training
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