Max Scherzer returns for a 19th season.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed to a deal to return to the Blue Jays, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
The deal is for one year and $3 million, according to multiple reports.
Scherzer, 41, told The Athletic in January that he was “healthy and could sign at any time if certain teams call” but was willing to wait until Opening Day to make his decision.
The right-hander now returns to Toronto, where he pitched last season.
Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts during the regular season, but threw more than three starts in the postseason.
He memorably won Game 4 of the American League Championship Series – jaws on the mound with manager John Schneider – to stay in the game before completing 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball.
The eight-time All-Star made two more appearances in the World Series, starting Game 7. He pitched the first 4 1/3 frames, striking out three and holding a vaunted Dodgers lineup to just one run.
Scherzer made it clear after the final game of the Fall Classic, which the Blue Jays lost in heartbreaking fashion, that he was not done pitching yet.
“All I can say is that it will take some time to give a full answer to that, but there is no way that this was my last pitch,” Scherzer told reporters. “That loss is so hard because you are so close to everyone. This team had that closeness, had that camaraderie. We had that passion not only for the game, but for each other.”
Toronto has been active in its efforts to return to the World Series this season. It has added pitchers Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers to strengthen its rotation and bullpen.
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