Max Scherzer expects to return to the mound for the 2025 season. Where he’ll do so remains unknown, but a few favorites have emerged.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, “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 41-year-old made 17 appearances for the Blue Jays during the regular season after recovering from a thumb issue, going 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 85 innings. He then made three starts in the postseason, including two in the World Series, going 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.
“I still can do this,” Scherzer told Rosenthal.
“No doubt. No doubt,” an MLB executive added. “He may not get 30 starts. But can he get 20 starts at a mid-3.00 ERA and a mid-3.00 FIP, be a guy who’s going to compete and care about winning? I 100 percent believe that.”
For now, Scherzer isn’t talking about where he might want to play next season, but he definitely intends to continue his MLB career.
“The World Series is still so fresh in my mind, and in my heart, it’s hard to even think about solving free agency,” he told Rosenthal. “… The way I see it, I’m healthy. I’m going to be able to go into spring training. I’m going to be able to ramp up. I have a track record of being a durable starter. I know how to navigate a season. I know how to navigate starts. I just feel I’m in a much better position to be able to do that now that I have this thumb issue completely resolved.”
Scherzer is no longer the pitcher who was an eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award-winner in his prime. But he showed in the postseason that he can still compete in October, and that should land him with a contender this winter.