As noted by Mitch Bannon of The Athletic on Monday, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He's aiming for 60-65 pitches in that game as he works back from a back injury. He's likely still a few starts away from being able to return to the Blue Jays rotation.

However, whether or not the Blue Jays want him to could depend on the team's direction at the trade deadline.

Here's what we mean.

A 19-year veteran of the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Blue Jays, Scherzer is one of the best pitchers of the 2000s. He's gone 222-121 for his career with a 3.27 ERA, winning three Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles. He's an eight-time All-Star as well.

He became the 11th player in baseball history to record 3,500 career strikeouts earlier this season, but aside from that, it's been a largely dreadful season for the veteran.

He has been on the injured list multiple times and has struggled mightily when he's been healthy, going 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA and posting a WHIP of 1.727. 

The Blue Jays enter play on Monday at 46-53 and clinging to life in the American League playoff picture. They are 4.5 games back of the third and final wild card spot and three teams are ahead of them. It's not at all how the Blue Jays pictured the follow-up to a World Series Game 7 appearance, but it's how it's gone.

If the Blue Jays don't turn things around - and fast - then they are going to find themselves in the position of sellers at the trade deadline.

If the Blue Jays ultimately do sell, veteran right-handers Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber could find themselves on the move. Both of them are free agents after the season and could net a modest prospect return. If one or both of them are gone, then Scherzer should have a rotation spot to come back to. And if the Blue Jays are content to just play out the string, then they might be content with an underwhelming Scherzer, simply honoring his career in his potential final year.

If the Blue Jays turn things around, or if they elect to just stay with their roster anyways, a roster spot for Scherzer might not exist. As much as they like him and respect him, there isn't an easy pathway to innings as currently constructed.

The Blue Jays will take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.

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