Thursday Round-up: Blue Jays Add Scherzer on one-year deal, other big names still in play

The deal, which is still pending a physical, is for $15.5MM and doesn't include any deferred money. MLB insider's Jon Heyman, Bob Nightengale, and Ben Nicholson-Smith all contributed to the reporting.

The addition of Scherzer lengthens the rotation and adds to the Blue Jays depth by pushing Yariel Rodriguez to the bullpen and allows them to keep Jake Bloss in Triple-A. Scherzer should slot in as the number three our four starter.

While the Blue Jays could continue to add to their bullpen, this feels like the last big pitching move of the winter. The Blue Jays are still in on Pete Alonso and reportedly have an offer on the table to free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, but getting one or both seems highly unlikely.

It was rumoured earlier today that the Blue Jays were also interested in closer Kenley Jansen, though the Jays reunion with Jeff Hoffman may preclude Jansen, who is 4th all time in career saves, from coming to Toronto.

Instead, the Blue Jays can now turn all their focus to negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. The All-Star first baseman has set a deadline of February 17th, the first full day of Spring Training, as the deadline for any extension talks. If no deal is reached by then, then the Blue Jays, fans, and the baseball will have to wait until at least October to find out Vladdy's future.

While the Blue Jays' offseason was slow to develop, the signings of Anthony Santander and now Scherzer have kicked it into another gear.

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