Max Scherzer reportedly reaches deal to return to Blue Jays for 19th MLB season after World Series run

Max Scherzer isn’t going anywhere.

Scherzer struck a deal to return to the Toronto Blue Jays late Wednesday night, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The one-year, $3 million deal includes up to $10 million in incentives, via SportsNet's Shi Davidi. There was reportedly strong mutual interest in a new contract for quite some time.

That means Scherzer will return for a 19th season in Major League Baseball. The 41-year-old made his debut in 2008 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he's picked up three Cy Young awards, eight All-Star nods and World Series titles with the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers before he landed in Toronto last offseason.

Scherzer held a career-high 5.19 ERA last season, and he went 5-5 in 17 starts. He spent significant time on the injured list last season, including a thumb injury that impacted him early. Scherzer helped the Blue Jays reach the World Series after a dominant playoff run and he made the start for the franchise in Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue Jays ended up falling 5-4 in 11 innings in that contest.

Scherzer marks the latest addition to a crowded rotation in Toronto. The team signed Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce and Shane Bieber — though Bieber is still recovering from an injury of his own — this offseason. They still have stars Kevin Gausman and José Berrios, and Trey Yesavage is coming off a stellar postseason run. 

The Blue Jays have the fourth-highest payroll for next season with about $280 million committed before Scherzer's deal. Clearly, the franchise is committed to making a return trip to the World Series to finish the job. 

While a lot of Scherzer's impact will be dependent on his health, and he's certainly not the pitcher he once was at this late stage of his career, the future Hall of Famer is undoubtedly a great piece to keep in the rotation as long as he wants to be there.