Right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer signed a one-year deal to return to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night, giving the Jays some additional pitching depth while also raising some further questions about how the starting rotation will be structured.

Thanks to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, we know that Scherzer will have a $3 million base salary, and he will also have up to $10 million in incentives, meaning he can earn a maximum of $13 million.

As noted by Heyman, he'll get $1 million each time he hits another 10 inning-threshold beginning at 65 innings pitched. He'll get that extra million at 75 innings, 85, and upwards until 155 innings. This gives him the potential for more money and also protects the Blue Jays should he be injured or perform poorly.

Scherzer is expected in camp this weekend, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to be in the rotation by Opening Day or if he'll need a tune-up or two at Triple-A in order to get ready.

A future Hall of Famer, Scherzer is now 41 and an 18-year veteran. He's played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Dodgers, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Blue Jays, going 221-117 in his career. A three-time Cy Young winner, Scherzer is also a two-time World Series champion. He led baseball in strikeouts for three straight years from 2016-2018 and is also an eight-time All-Star.

Scherzer was injured much of the 2025 regular season, only making 17 starts and pitching to a disappointing 5.19 ERA with the Jays. He did perform well in the playoffs, winning a game in the American League Championship Series and pitching valiantly in Game 7 of the World Series.

--Many of the Blue Jays players participating in the World Baseball Classic are expected to stay with the team through at least this weekend before heading off to play for their national teams. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic), Ernie Clement (USA), Alejandro Kirk (Mexico), Yariel Rodriguez (Cuba) and Kazuma Okamoto (Japan) are all participating in the event.

Japan won the 2023 version and Okamoto was also on that team. This will be the sixth iteration of the WBC: Japan won the first two (2006 and 2009), with the Dominican Republic (2013) and USA (2017) also winning gold medals.

This year's tournament begins on March 5. The championship is March 17.

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