"But now comes the task of trying to backfill those innings from departing starting pitchers like Scherzer and Chris Bassitt. The Blue Jays could shop at the top of the market for free agents like Dylan Cease or Framber Valdez, or they could go the Scherzer 2.0 route and target a veteran starting pitcher on a one-year deal to supplant those innings. One pitcher who might make sense for the Blue Jays is another elder statesman of the league: Justin Verlander."
"He missed a few weeks in the first half with a pectoral strain, and his results weren't spectacular: a 4.70 ERA in 15 starts with the San Francisco Giants. But then vintage Verlander returned in the second half. Not only did the average velocity on his fastball tick up, but the results followed as he enjoyed a 2.70 ERA in the final 14 starts of the season."
Max Scherzer provided key regular-season and postseason starts for the Blue Jays in 2025, and his one-year, $15 million contract returned clear late-season value. The Blue Jays face the task of replacing innings from departing starters such as Scherzer and Chris Bassitt and can either pursue top-market free agents or sign a veteran on a one-year deal. Justin Verlander, at 42, showed a stark first-half/second-half split in 2025, overcoming a pectoral strain and a 4.70 ERA early before posting a 2.70 ERA across his final 14 starts. Verlander increased fastball velocity and strikeouts down the stretch, producing an overall solid season performance.
Read at BlueJaysNation
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]