Stop Sitting on the Fence. Make Max Scherzer a Blue Jay.

Although many envisioned the Blue Jays rebuild would extend until the 2022 season approximately, the front office jumped the gun, and realized the team was prepared to contend earlier than originally thought. Spending $80 million on the rotation’s current ace Hyun-Jin Ryu was the team's first major splash that propelled them into playoff contention, and although several more pieces are still needed to create title contenders, Ryu has become a key player for the team throughout their run. With a playoff berth on the horizon for the 2020 Blue Jays, the window might just be open a few years early, and with that considered, the team needs more pitching if they want any chance at a title, and Max Scherzer might just be that final piece.

Currently the 2021 rotation projects to be Ryu, Walker (if resigned), Shoemaker, and Pearson, leaving a spot open for the team. Roark or Anderson were ideally supposed to fill that final spot, but clearly those acquisitions just haven’t worked out for the club. The four who project to fill out the rotation look very strong with Ryu leading the way, and lots of back end talent, but a contending team could really use a second bona fide ace, especially reflecting on the 2019 world series matchup, which featured Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, and Gerrit Cole for the Astros, and Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, and Stephen Strasberg for the champion Nationals. Although filling out the rotation with talent is critical, top heavy rotations are incredibly important for title contenders.

Just a year after winning the title, the Washington Nationals struggled all season long, finishing dead last in their division after losing their MVP caliber third baseman Anthony Rendon to the Angels in free agency. Considering their struggles, many players might just become available via trade in the upcoming offseason. After all, they are just one season removed from being the oldest team in baseball (based on average age). Max Scherzer has proven over the last decade that he is one of the most elite pitchers in the entire sport, having won three Cy Young awards in his career, along with four other top five finishes, and three top ten finishes in MVP voting. He was a member of the all-star team in each of the last seven seasons, and has held a sub 3.00 ERA in each of the last five seasons since joining the Nationals.

In 2020; his age 35 season, Scherzer owns a 3.67 ERA, his highest since 2012, but still a great number. If you take away a game against the Marlins in which he allowed six earned runs, his ERA becomes 3.05, an excellent number. Scherzer might be getting up in age, but he is still a relevant player. His stats remain strong, despite a slight recession, and there aren’t many signs of a big regression coming. His fastball velocity remains the same as it did throughout his prime years, and his fastball spin rate is in the 92nd percentile among major league pitchers. His cutter velocity actually increased. He has more movement on his curveball than ever before, and his slider continues to work as a put out pitch, holding hitters to a .160 BAA. The only issue for Scherzer is his barreled up rate, and his sweet spot percentage. Although his hard hit percentage, exit velocity, and launch angels are the same as usual, he seems to be getting hit just a little bit better then usual, which is likely resulting in his higher ERA. This could be partly at fault of Nationals catchers however, as Yan Gomes ranks 57th in the league in framing, and Kurt Suzuki ranks 62nd, dead last among qualified catchers. Although Scherzer might slowly be receding, he remains a top end pitcher, and could provide more than just on field production for a young Jays team, as he is a known leader in the clubhouse.

Scherzer is known as one of the hardest working, and most brilliant players in the league, and is extremely highly respected. Coming to Toronto, he could be extremely valuable in his mentoring value to the up and coming Nate Pearson. Like Scherzer, Pearson is a high velocity pitcher with a great secondary slider, who loves to study the game. To be able to spend time with someone like Scherzer could be extremely beneficial for the future of Pearson, and the Blue Jays, which just adds to the incentives towards a trade.

Although Scherzer is a beloved fan favourite in Washington, it might just be time for the team to make him available, as he is in the last year of his contract, still holds value, has an expensive salary, and the team is no longer in contention. The Blue Jays seem like an excellent trade partner, as not only is Scherzer a great fit, but the Jays also have lots of budget space, and a wide range of prospects for Washington to choose from. With only one year remaining on his contract, Scherzer also wouldn’t be too expensive for the Jays, and they might be able to acquire the ace without giving up one of the organizations elite prospects (ie. Groshans, Martin). Considering the needs of the Nationals, a trade centered around Danny Jansen and/or 19 year old prospect Eric Pardinho could be extremely beneficial for both sides, as the Nats get some positions of needs with young talent and high potential, and the Jays get an ace while giving up players they don’t truly need (Pardinho is too long term, and Jansen can be replaced by McGuire/Kirk).

Over the last few years, the Blue Jays front office has sat on the fence far too many times. Between waiting too long to trade Donaldson, only trading for struggling rentals at the 2020 trade deadline, and refusing to give up any significant prospects while they feel the window is open, they cannot continue to run this way, and have to start making decisions sooner or later. With the window officially open, it might be time to finally pull the trigger on a trade to help the team contend, and with a major player like Scherzer along with other potential offseason improvements, the team could quickly become a contender by next year. It’s time to stop sitting on the fence, and go get Max Scherzer.