The Texas Rangers continue to surface as a logical landing spot for veteran pitching this offseason, and another familiar name from the Toronto Blue Jays is beginning to gain traction. After links to Chris Bassitt, attention has now shifted to Max Scherzer, a future Hall of Famer whose best years are behind him but whose value to a contending rotation may still be very real.
According to Just Baseball’s Cristian Crespo, Scherzer is a realistic free-agent loss for Toronto after the club’s aggressive offseason spending, which included a blockbuster deal for Dylan Cease. With the Blue Jays reallocating resources and getting younger in certain areas, veterans like Scherzer could be pushed to the margins—opening the door for a reunion in Texas.
For the Rangers, this isn’t about chasing nostalgia. It’s about stabilizing a rotation that, beyond its top-end talent, still carries meaningful uncertainty.
Why Max Scherzer Still Makes Sense for Texas
The Rangers already employ one future Hall of Famer in Jacob deGrom, but depth and durability remain concerns. Behind deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, the rotation leans heavily on youth, including Jack Leiter and a wave of arms with limited big-league service time.
That’s where Scherzer fits. He no longer profiles as a staff ace, but he doesn’t need to. Texas isn’t asking him to carry October aspirations on his back. Instead, they would be asking for innings, leadership, and a veteran presence capable of navigating difficult stretches of the season.
Scherzer’s 2025 regular season with Toronto was uneven. A lingering right thumb injury, not an elbow or shoulder issue, limited him to just 85 innings and contributed to a 5.19 ERA. On paper, those numbers don’t inspire confidence. Context, however, matters.
When the stakes rose, Scherzer still delivered. In three postseason starts during Toronto’s World Series run, he posted a 3.77 ERA and took the ball in Game 7—a reminder that while the wipeout stuff may be diminished, the competitiveness and pitchability remain intact.
A Low-Risk Bet With Familiarity Built In
The Rangers are uniquely positioned to extract value from a pitcher like Scherzer. He already understands the organization, the market, and the expectations after his previous stint in Texas. That familiarity reduces risk, especially for a front office led by Chris Young , who has consistently emphasized pitching depth as a priority this offseason.
Financially, Scherzer also fits the Rangers’ needs. This wouldn’t be a long-term commitment or a rotation-altering contract. A one-year deal with incentives aligns with Texas’ competitive window while protecting flexibility beyond 2026.
There’s also a developmental angle. Young pitchers benefit from proximity to veterans who have seen everything the league can throw at them. Having deGrom and Scherzer in the same clubhouse would create an environment rich in experience, preparation, and accountability—traits that matter over a 162-game grind.
The Rangers don’t need Max Scherzer to be dominant. They need him to be functional, competitive, and available when the rotation inevitably tests its depth. As Toronto reshapes its roster and Texas looks for smart, short-term upgrades, this connection feels less speculative and more inevitable.
If the Rangers are serious about insulating their rotation without overextending themselves, revisiting Mad Max may be one of the most pragmatic moves still on the board.
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