Max Scherzer narrowly misses $1 million bonus with Blue Jays for 2026 season

Max Scherzer delivered a strong outing in the final game of the season, recording seven strikeouts and helping the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, which brought him his 225th career victory. But that performance was not enough to secure one of the bonuses written into his contract.

As Bleacher Report notes, Scherzer opened the game with seven strong innings, throwing 114 pitches on three days’ rest, and came out to start the eighth; there he issued a walk to the first batter and left the game. The 42-year-old finished the season with 84.2 innings pitched, falling a single out short of the threshold that would have earned him a $1 million bonus.

Spotrac data shows Scherzer already collected $2 million for passing the 65- and 75-inning thresholds this season, and that the contract carried $1 million incentives for every 10 innings beyond 75. Although the miss was minimal, the club has the administrative option to pay the bonus regardless of the statistics.

Many observers felt Scherzer delivered a vintage-style performance to close the season, while his future on the field remains unclear; how the front office handles the bonus and his career is a matter of decision-making. As Bleacher Report reports, the Blue Jays could still choose to honor him with the payment despite him falling short of the required formality.