The Toronto Blue Jays are enjoying historic returns on one of their key offseason additions, while another one struggles.
To start a pivotal 2025 season, with the Blue Jays looking to return to the playoffs in what could be their final year with franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team has seen infielder Andrés Giménez become the first player in its history to hit three homers in his first five games.
Meanwhile, future Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer has been unable to make a meaningful start after joining the club for this season, pitching just three innings in his debut and giving up two home runs before exiting the game with an injury.
With Scherzer’s future in limbo, the Blue Jays announced a trade for Houston Astros right-hander Edinson Batista. The deal seemed to be an effort to get a bit younger in the bullpen and Batista has yet to pitch in a major-league game. But clearly, the Blue Jays are remaining active on the trade market and more could be coming — perhaps even a move involving Guerrero or Scherzer — depending on how the team fares leading up to the deadline.
Shortly after that pitching trade was posted, Scherzer announced that he received a cortisone shot in his hand in an effort to return to the mound as quickly as possible.
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“It doesn’t feel good, but you’ll take any amount of pain to get back out there,” the pitcher said, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. “Pain’s not the problem. The pain is not being able to pitch and be out there. That’s what stinks.”
Scherzer has ruled out surgery for the time being, but the team has been unable to set a specific timetable for his return. His absence could open up a rotation spot for a new arm.
“…it’s possible he’ll require more time before resuming throwing, which creates an opening in the Blue Jays’ rotation for someone like Easton Lucas or Yariel Roriguez in the meantime,” Nicholson-Smith added. “None of it’s ideal at a time that the Blue Jays are short on big-league ready pitching depth, but there’s obviously no sense in rushing Scherzer back. And given his long track record as an elite pitcher, the Blue Jays trust his judgement here.”
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