yardbarker
Max Scherzer, the seasoned right-hander and future Hall of Famer, has no plans to retire quietly. He revealed to Jon Heyman of the New York Post that he will participate in lockout games during the offseason to assess whether he feels capable of pitching in 2027.
Before his last start with the Toronto Blue Jays, Scherzer remained noncommittal about his future. In that final outing, with his family watching, he delivered seven innings of one-run baseball, striking out seven against the Cincinnati Reds. The performance, backed by an energetic Toronto crowd, carried the unmistakable atmosphere of a farewell.
That start came on short rest in a game with no playoff implications for the Blue Jays. One apparent motivator for Scherzer was the chance to catch longtime rival Justin Verlander on the all-time strikeout list. His seven strikeouts brought his career total to 3,557, leaving him three behind Verlander. For most players, moving from ninth to eighth on that prestigious list might not justify another season, but Scherzer has consistently shown a different level of competitiveness. The pursuit of Verlander could be enough to fuel another campaign.
It is no surprise that Scherzer battled multiple health issues during his age-41 season. He missed time due to forearm, ankle, and back injuries, ultimately throwing 84 2/3 innings—nearly identical to his 2025 workload with the Blue Jays. Those injuries complicate any evaluation of his performance. A 5.74 ERA across 18 starts, along with a 5.19 xFIP and a 5.01 SIERA, hardly inspires confidence.
However, the final stretch offered reason for optimism. After returning from back spasms in late July, Scherzer made 12 starts and posted a 4.16 ERA. His 3.56 xERA was strong, though his xFIP (4.81) and SIERA (4.69) were less encouraging. Still, the overall trend suggests he might have enough left for an age-42 season.
Key Analysis
Scherzer did not sign with a team until March last offseason, joining a Blue Jays rotation already dealing with injury uncertainty. That move turned into a health nightmare for Toronto's pitching staff. A potential lockout could alter the timing this winter, but Scherzer likely faces a similar scenario if he pitches next year: signing with a team in need of starting pitching near the end of the offseason.
Originally reported by yardbarker.