Max Scherzer

Toronto Blue Jays, Starting Pitcher
Age: 41y-7m-10d (Jul 27, 1984)
Exp: 17.079 Years
Country: US
College: Missouri
Drafted: Round 1 (#11 overall), 2006
Agent(s): Scott Boras (Boras Corporation)
2026 Payroll Salary

$3,000,000

2026 Cash

$3,000,000

Career Earnings

$345,074,999

2026-2026 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Max Scherzer signed a 1 year, $3,000,000 contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, including $3,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,000,000. In 2026, Scherzer will earn a base salary of $3,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $3,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,000,000
Average Salary:
$3,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
17.079
Year Age YOS PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2026 41 17.079 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $3,000,000 $3,000,000
2027 42 -
UFA
Year Age Service Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2026 41 17.079 $3,000,000 - - $3,000,000 $3,000,000
2027 42 --
UFA
Year Age Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2026 41 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000
Contract Notes
  • Full No Trade Clause
  • Performance Incentives:  $10M total
    Innings Pitched: $1M each for 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145, 155
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2025-2025 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $15,500,000
Average Salary:
$15,500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
16.079
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2022-2024 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $130,000,000
Average Salary:
$43,333,333
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
13.079
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2015-2021 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
7 yr(s) / $210,000,000
Average Salary:
$30,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$50,000,000
YOS @ Signing:
6.079
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2014-2014 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $15,525,000
Average Salary:
$15,525,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
5.079
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2013-2013 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $6,725,000
Average Salary:
$6,725,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
4.079
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2012-2012 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,750,000
Average Salary:
$3,750,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
3.079
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2011-2011 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $600,000
Average Salary:
$600,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
2.079
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2007-2010 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $4,300,000
Average Salary:
$1,075,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
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2006-2006 Signing Bonus

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,000,000
Average Salary:
$3,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

17.079 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$345,074,999

Earnings w/ Different Teams

6 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2006 21
-
Signing Bonus
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
2007 22
17.079
Active
$950,000
$3,950,000
2008 23
0
Active / Pre-Arbitration Bypassed
$950,000
$4,900,000
2009 24
0.079
Active / Pre-Arbitration 1 Bypassed
$1,450,000
$6,350,000
2010 25
1.079
Active / Pre-Arbitration 2 Bypassed
$950,000
$7,300,000
2011 26
2.079
Active
$600,000
$7,900,000
2012 27
3.079
Active / Arb Avoided
$3,750,000
$11,650,000
2013 28
4.079
Active / arbitration-avoided-numbers-exchanged
$6,725,000
$18,375,000
 AL Cy Young
2014 29
5.079
Active / Arb Avoided
$15,525,000
$33,900,000
2015 30
6.079
Active
$15,175,000
$49,075,000
2016 31
7.079
Active
$15,100,000
$64,175,000
 NL Cy Young
2017 32
8.079
Active
$15,100,000
$79,275,000
 NL Cy Young
2018 33
9.079
Active
$15,100,000
$94,375,000
2019 34
10.079
Active
$15,100,000
$109,475,000
 Champion All MLB (1st)
2020 35
11.079
Active
$15,000,000
$124,475,000
2021 36
12.079
Retained
$15,100,000
$139,575,000
 All MLB (1st)
2022 37
13.079
Active
Deferred
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$182,908,333
$197,908,333
 All MLB (2nd)
2023 38
14.079
Retained
Deferred
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$241,241,666
$256,241,666
2024 39
15.079
Injured / Player Exercised
Retained
Deferred
$12,500,000
$30,833,333
$15,000,000
$268,741,666
$299,574,999
$314,574,999
2025 40
16.079
Active
Deferred
$15,500,000
$15,000,000
$330,074,999
$345,074,999
Total      
$345,074,999
$330,074,999
$345,074,999
2026 41
17.079
Active
Deferred
$3,000,000
$15,000,000
2027 42
17.079
Deferred
$15,000,000
2028 43
17.079
Deferred
$15,000,000
Total
$393,074,999

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
3 $1,900,000 $3,000,000 - $4,900,000
6 $29,000,000 - - $29,000,000
11 $115,000,000 $50,000,000 $675,000 $165,675,000
3 $117,499,999 - - $117,499,999
1 $12,500,000 - - $12,500,000
1 $15,500,000 - - $15,500,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2006
21
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
2007
22
$950,000
$950,000
$3,950,000
2008
23
$950,000
$950,000
$4,900,000
2009
24
$1,450,000
$1,450,000
$6,350,000
2010
25
$950,000
$950,000
$7,300,000
2011
26
$600,000
$600,000
$7,900,000
2012
27
$3,750,000
$3,750,000
$11,650,000
2013
28
$6,725,000
$6,725,000
$18,375,000
2014
29
$15,525,000
$15,525,000
$33,900,000
2015
30
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
$175,000
$15,175,000
$49,075,000
2016
31
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$64,175,000
2017
32
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$79,275,000
2018
33
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$94,375,000
2019
34
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$109,475,000
2020
35
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
$124,475,000
2021
36
$15,000,000
$100,000
$15,100,000
$139,575,000
2022
37
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$182,908,333
$197,908,333
2023
38
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$43,333,333
$15,000,000
$241,241,666
$256,241,666
2024
39
$12,500,000
$30,833,333
$15,000,000
$12,500,000
$30,833,333
$15,000,000
$268,741,666
$299,574,999
$314,574,999
2025
40
$15,500,000
$15,000,000
$15,500,000
$15,000,000
$330,074,999
$345,074,999
Total
$291,399,999
$53,000,000
$675,000
$345,074,999
$330,074,999
$345,074,999
2026
41
$3,000,000
$15,000,000
$3,000,000
$15,000,000
2027
42
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
2028
43
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
Total
$339,399,999
$53,000,000
$675,000
$393,074,999

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
3 $1,900,000 $3,000,000 - $4,900,000
6 $29,000,000 - - $29,000,000
11 $115,000,000 $50,000,000 $675,000 $165,675,000
3 $117,499,999 - - $117,499,999
1 $12,500,000 - - $12,500,000
1 $15,500,000 - - $15,500,000

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2025 TOR Mar 30, 2025 - Jun 25, 2025 Thumb
2024 TEX Jul 31, 2024 - Sep 29, 2024 Shoulder
2024 TEX Mar 28, 2024 - Jun 23, 2024 Back
2023 TEX Sep 13, 2023 - Oct 01, 2023 Arm
2022 NYM Sep 07, 2022 - Sep 19, 2022 Oblique
2022 NYM May 20, 2022 - Jul 05, 2022 Oblique
2021 WSH Jun 12, 2021 - Jun 22, 2021 Groin
2019 WSH Jul 29, 2019 - Aug 23, 2019 Back
2019 WSH Jul 10, 2019 - Jul 25, 2019 Back
2017 WSH Aug 18, 2017 - Aug 28, 2017 Neck
  • Feb 26, 2026 Signed a 1 year $3 million contract with Toronto (TOR)
  • Jan 30, 2025 Signed a 1 year $15.5 million contract with Toronto (TOR)
  • Jul 29, 2023 Exercised a $43.3M player option for 2024 with Texas (TEX)
  • Jul 29, 2023 Traded to Texas (TEX) from New York (NYM) for Luisangel Acuna
  • Apr 20, 2023 Suspended 10 games for a Uniform Violation (sticky substance)
  • Nov 29, 2021 Signed a 3 year $130 million contract with New York (NYM)
  • Jul 29, 2021 Traded to Los Angeles (LAD) from Washington (WSH) with Trea Turner for Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Gerardo Carrillo and Donovan Casey
  • Jan 19, 2015 Signed a 7 year $210 million contract with Washington (WAS)
  • Nov 10, 2014 Declined a qualifying offer with Detroit (DET)
  • Nov 03, 2014 Detroit (DET) extended Qualifying Offer
  • Jan 17, 2014 Signed a 1 year $15.525 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Feb 04, 2013 Signed a 1 year $6.725 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Jan 17, 2012 Signed a 1 year $3.75 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Mar 09, 2011 Signed a 1 year $600k contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Dec 08, 2009 Traded to Detroit (DET) from Arizona (ARI) as part of a 3-team trade: New York (NYY) traded Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to Detroit (DET); Detroit (DET) traded Curtis Granderson to New York (NYY); Detroit (DET) traded Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy to Arizona (ARI); Arizona (ARI) traded Daniel Schlereth to Detroit (DET)
  • May 30, 2007 Signed a 4 year $4.3 million contract with Arizona (ARI)
  • Jun 20, 2006 Signed a contract with Arizona (ARI)
  • Jun 06, 2006 Drafted by Arizona (ARI): Round 1 (#11 overall)
  • Jun 20, 2003 Unsigned by St. Louis (STL)
  • Jun 04, 2003 Drafted by St. Louis (STL): Round 43 (#1291 overall)

Suspensions

Date Reason Games Suspended Fine Amount
Apr 20, 2023 Uniform Violation (sticky substance) 10 -
Suspensions: 1 $0
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2025 TOR 17 17 87 49 49 23 82 19 5 5 0 85.0 5.19 1.29 0.23
2024 TEX 9 9 40 20 19 10 40 7 2 4 0 43.3 3.95 1.15 0.43
2023 TEX 27 27 126 65 64 45 174 28 13 6 0 152.7 3.77 1.12 3.22
2022 NYM 23 22 108 39 37 24 173 13 11 5 0 145.3 2.29 0.91 5.24
2021 LAD 30 30 119 53 49 36 236 23 15 4 0 179.3 2.46 0.86 6.06
2020 WSH 12 12 70 30 28 23 92 10 5 4 0 67.3 3.74 1.38 2.16
2019 WSH 29 27 144 59 56 33 243 18 11 7 0 172.3 2.93 1.03 5.28
2018 WSH 35 33 150 66 62 51 300 23 18 7 0 220.7 2.53 0.91 7.91
2017 WSH 31 31 126 62 56 55 268 22 16 6 0 200.7 2.51 0.90 7.18
2016 WSH 34 34 165 77 75 56 284 31 20 7 0 228.3 2.96 0.97 6.28
2015 WSH 34 33 176 74 71 34 276 27 14 12 0 228.7 2.79 0.92 6.94
2014 DET 33 33 196 80 77 63 252 18 18 5 0 220.3 3.15 1.18 5.75
2013 DET 32 32 152 73 69 56 240 18 21 3 0 214.3 2.90 0.97 6.49
2012 DET 32 32 179 82 78 60 231 23 16 7 0 187.7 3.74 1.27 4.35
2011 DET 33 33 207 101 96 56 174 29 15 9 0 195.0 4.43 1.35 1.40

Calculated Market Value

$9.0M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 1 years, $8,972,300
  • Avg. Salary: $8,972,300
  • MLB Rank: 202
  • SP Rank: 69

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2027
  • Avg. Salary: $3,000,000
  • MLB Rank: 369
  • SP Rank: 104

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Max Scherzer to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Justin Verlander 1 $15,000,000 $15,000,000 41
Clayton Kershaw 1 $7,500,000 $7,500,000 36
Alex Cobb 1 $15,000,000 $15,000,000 37
Jose Quintana 1 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 36
Averages 1 $10,375,000 $10,375,000 37.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Scherzer's current age (41), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
1 $10,375,000 $10,375,000

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Scherzer statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GS/Yr, IP, K/9, BB/9, ERA, WHIP, FIP, WAR

Player GS/Yr IP K/9 BB/9 ERA WHIP FIP WAR
Justin Verlander
2023-2024
 22.00 5.61 7.68 2.59 4.35 1.26 4.32 2.43
Clayton Kershaw
2023-2024
 15.50 5.22 8.28 2.72 3.48 1.28 3.78 3.78
Alex Cobb
2023-2024
 15.50 5.41 6.65 1.92 3.32 1.18 3.65 3.05
Jose Quintana
2023-2024
 22.00 5.59 7.14 3.09 3.66 1.28 4.04 3.24
Average 18.75 5.46 7.44 2.58 3.70 1.25 3.95 3.13
Max Scherzer
2024-2025
 13.00 4.94 8.50 2.26 4.57 1.22 4.59 1.17
Pct Change -30.67 -9.52 14.25 12.40 -23.51 2.40 -16.20 -62.62
Median Prime % Change -12.86%
Average Prime % Change -14.18%

Calculated Market Value: Max Scherzer

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $8,972,300 $8,972,300
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