Max Scherzer Aims for Healthy Offseason After Ending Year on IL

Max Scherzer is set to explore free agency after what he describes as the most challenging season of his 17-year career in Major League Baseball. At the age of 40, Scherzer concluded his time with the Texas Rangers, having made the fewest starts in a season since his rookie year.

In a statement made before the Rangers’ final home game of the season, Scherzer expressed optimism about his future. He aims to have a standard offseason and remains confident in his ability to pitch at a high level. “There’s nothing stopping me from doing that,” he noted, expressing hope that he can address his physical challenges and return stronger next season.

Scherzer’s season ended prematurely due to a strained left hamstring, which resulted in him being placed on the 15-day injured list. This injury occurred while the reigning World Series champions found themselves out of playoff contention, finishing with a record of 2-4 and a 3.95 ERA over just nine starts. This marked a significant drop from his typical performance, as it was the first time he had started fewer than ten games since his debut season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.

The right-hander had to wait until June 23 to make his season debut for the Rangers. His return to the mound came after exiting Game 3 of the World Series against Arizona due to back tightness. Scherzer underwent surgery for a herniated disk in mid-December and faced additional challenges during rehabilitation, including a nerve issue linked to thumb soreness.

Reflecting on his recent struggles, Scherzer shared a silver lining. “The good news is now I can go into the offseason healthy,” he said. With his back and arm in shape, he feels positively about his prospects. He believes that a complete offseason training regimen will be beneficial and is hopeful that this will lead to improved performance in the coming year.

While Scherzer has expressed a desire to remain with the Rangers, it appears doubtful that the organization will pursue his re-signing. He has opted not to join the team on their last road trip, choosing instead to return to Florida early to ensure his children are settled back into school.

When Scherzer last entered free agency, he signed a lucrative three-year, $130 million contract with the New York Mets before the 2022 season. He was traded to Texas last summer after opting into the final year of that contract, with the Mets covering a significant portion of his salary for the current season.

Over his lengthy career, Scherzer has seen several big contracts, including a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Washington Nationals in 2015, during which time he helped secure the team’s first and only World Series title in 2019. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the final year of that contract before signing with the Mets.

With a career record of 216 wins and 112 losses across 466 games, Scherzer ranks 11th on the all-time MLB strikeouts list, with 3,407 strikeouts in 2,878 innings pitched. Among active pitchers, only his former teammate Justin Verlander has more strikeouts.

After joining the Rangers last year, Scherzer appeared in eight games with a solid 3.20 ERA but missed the tail end of the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs due to a right shoulder strain. Despite the hurdles this season, Scherzer remains realistic about the free agency process.

“I’ve been in free agency two other times in my career. I understand how this goes, and I’m realistic about it,” he remarked. With his experience, Scherzer is prepared to face the uncertainties that lie ahead.