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NEW YORK (AP) -- Max Scherzer is returning to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Two weeks into spring training, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed with the reigning American League champions on a $3 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press early Thursday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.
The 41-year-old Scherzer can earn another $10 million in performance bonuses, starting with 65 innings pitched. He gets $1 million for 65 innings and each additional 10 through 155.
Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts and 85 innings for the Blue Jays last season, his 18th in the major leagues. Then he made three starts in the postseason, beating Seattle 8-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series before getting the ball twice in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The right-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 7 and left to a rousing ovation from fans in Toronto, but the Blue Jays lost 5-4 in 11 innings.
Scherzer signed a $15.5 million, one-year contract with Toronto in February 2025. A free agent again this winter, he's set to rejoin the Blue Jays and provide even more depth for a strong rotation expected to feature some combination of Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, Jose Berríos and Eric Lauer.