There are news stories that don’t explode immediately, but leave a strange aftertaste. Not loud, not definitive, just a short statement—enough to make people pause and think.
The Toronto Blue Jays are in one such moment.
Theoretically, they’re done with the rotation. Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce have been brought in, adding Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berrios to the roster. Six starters, deep enough, high enough, enough to go into the season without needing another name. All signs point to the door being closed for Chris Bassitt or Max Scherzer.
But then Jon Heyman speaks up. And his words aren’t loud.
“I think the Jays are still interested in Scherzer.”
That’s it. No commitment. No timeline. No guarantee of what will happen. But it’s precisely that ambiguity that gives the feeling that the story isn’t over yet.
Max Scherzer is 41 years old. A Hall of Famer, three Cy Young players, eight All-Stars, two World Series champions. He’s no longer in a rush to prove anything. Scherzer has even publicly stated that he’s willing to wait past Opening Day if he doesn’t see the “right team, right time.” A seemingly calm choice, but one that shows he holds complete control.
For the Blue Jays, this interest raises more questions than answers. They don’t lack starters. Nor do they lack confidence from analysts that the current rotation is strong enough to carry the team into the postseason. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com even suggested this could be one of MLB’s best rotations if things go right.
So why is Scherzer still on Toronto’s mind?
Perhaps the answer doesn’t lie in the ERA numbers or the win/loss record from last season. A 5-5 record with an ERA of 5.19 in 17 starts last season isn’t something a team dreaming of the World Series should be anxious about. But Scherzer is more than just a pitcher. He’s pressure, he’s the standard, a presence that every locker room can feel.
That presence is even more noteworthy given that the Blue Jays have players who need careful management. Yesavage and Bieber both carry question marks regarding innings and stamina. Scherzer, in this scenario, isn’t necessarily the “savior,” but could be a safety cushion—an option for rotation, for shielding, to keep the season from veering off track when risks arise.
But there’s another, less-discussed possibility. Toronto’s continued pursuit of Scherzer might reflect a quiet concern: that the current rotation, while praised, is more fragile than they’re willing to admit publicly.
Scherzer hasn’t decided. The Blue Jays haven’t acted either. Everyone is in a state of waiting—a quiet wait, where each side understands that just one injury, one bad start, or one unexpected door opening after Opening Day could change everything very quickly.
And when a team that’s “already ready” still isn’t completely at ease, the biggest question probably isn’t when Scherzer will sign, but why Toronto still can’t get his name out of their minds.
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