Rangers miss chance to reunite with veteran who played key role in 2023 World Series

Former Rangers right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer re-signs with Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed righty Max Scherzer to a one-year, $3 million deal that can reach $10 million with incentives, according to The New York Post's Jon Heyman and Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. The Blue Jays will presumably place outfielder Anthony Santander on the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot for the future Hall of Famer.

Scherzer, 41, pitched for the Rangers in 2023 and 2024 after Texas acquired him from the New York Mets for infielder Luisangel Acuña at the 2023 Trade Deadline. He had a 3.20 ERA in 45 innings across eight starts with Texas during the 2023 regular season.

Scherzer made three postseason starts during the Rangers' postseason run. The eight-time All-Star had a rough outing during Game 3 of the 2023 ALCS, allowing five runs in four innings en route to suffering the loss. He allowed two runs over 2 2/3 innings during ALCS Game 7 as the Rangers defeated the Houston Astros 11-4 to advance to the World Series. Scherzer then made the start during Game 3 of the 2023 World Series against his former team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and hurled three scoreless innings as Texas won 3-1.

Scherzer made just nine starts with the Rangers in 2024 due to injuries. He signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with Toronto during the 2024-25 offseason. He struggled with the Blue Jays during the regular season, posting a 5.19 ERA in 85 innings across 17 starts.

Despite his regular-season struggles, Scherzer was a big reason why the Blue Jays made it all the way to World Series Game 7.

In ALCS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners, Scherzer gave up just two runs in 5 2/3 innings en route to earning the win. After allowing three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings during the 18-inning World Series Game 5 thriller, which the Los Angeles Dodgers won, Scherzer allowed just one run in 4 1/3 innings during an insane Game 7, which ended in heartbreak for Toronto fans.

Rangers-Max Scherzer would've been fun, but unnecessary

It would've made sense for the Rangers to bring back Scherzer earlier in the offseason. But since the Rangers acquired left-handed starter MacKenzie Gore via a trade with the Washington Nationals, signed left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery, who is expected to return from injury mid-season, and signed several starters to minor-league deals, the Rangers didn't really need Scherzer. Sure, the deal he signed with Toronto is relatively affordable, but it's no secret that the Rangers are operating on a limited budget. Also, Scherzer probably didn't want to go back to the Rangers and preferred to re-sign with the Blue Jays, a team many view as this year's American League favorites.