Max Scherzer says pitching for Toronto Blue Jays in World Series was 'life-changing'
The Toronto Blue Jays’ fateful World Series run was full of unlikely heroes — and their oldest player nearly had a shot at being one of their biggest.
In Game 7 of the World Series, Toronto opted to start 41-year-old Max Scherzer, who often looked like a shell of himself during much of an injury-riddled season after signing a one-year deal with the Blue Jays.
But during his third postseason start on the biggest possible stage, Scherzer did about everything he was asked — leaving the game with a 3-1 lead and a shot for Toronto to win it all.
He went 4.1 innings, giving up one earned run and four hits. But in a game that ended up going 11 innings and that featured a combined 13 pitchers, Scherzer’s story became a footnote and not the lede.
As you know by now, the Los Angeles Dodgers had other plans, scoring four runs on Toronto’s bullpen for an eventual 5-4 win.
But Scherzer’s postseason performance showed that the three-time Cy Young winner just might be able to return for another MLB season, whether that’s in Toronto or elsewhere.
In an article published Monday for The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal spoke to Scherzer about his time in Toronto, and his final start of the playoffs in particular.
“That’s what Game 7s bring in the World Series. These are kind of life-changing starts. It’s hard to even put into words what it means, where it ranks in my career. I’m still processing it,” Scherzer told Rosenthal.
It was actually the second World Series Game 7 he’d started, winning a ring with the Washington Nationals in 2019.
“This one, to be pitching again, and what that game meant to the Blue Jays and all the fans in Canada — obviously, it’s a different outcome [than 2019], but it’s also a game I don’t think anybody is ever going to forget,” Scherzer added.
Will the Blue Jays re-sign Scherzer?
From an emotional standpoint, it seems only likely that Toronto will try to negotiate something out with Scherzer for a return to the Blue Jays.
But baseball free agency isn’t always a place for emotional decisions, and Scherzer admits he’s not sure how to navigate the next few months.
“In my heart, it’s hard to even think about solving free agency,” he told Rosenthal.
It’s hard to tell what exactly the future has in store for Scherzer, despite his playoff contributions on and off the field. Scherzer was only able to make 17 starts this year while dealing with a litany of hand issues, and has only managed above 25 starts once in the last four years.
But while any Scherzer deal comes with an injury risk, the only real issue for Toronto’s front office is if they have a place for him. If Scherzer signs another one-year deal and struggles, it simply might be the end of the road for his major league career, and not a long-term financial burden.