The New York Yankees, already boasting a formidable rotation in May 2025, are poised to make a seismic splash ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. In a stunning proposal by Athlon Sports’ Jake Elman, the Yankees could acquire eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer from the Toronto Blue Jays in a deal that would shake up Major League Baseball.
Elman suggests the Yankees could land Scherzer in exchange for a package centered around their 2024 fourth-round draft pick, Gage Ziehl, ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the Yankees’ system by MLB Pipeline. “The Yankees need another rotation arm, and Scherzer checks plenty of boxes,” Elman wrote. “He’ll likely come cheap, especially given his age and one-year, $15.5 million contract. Although Scherzer has a full no-trade clause, pitching for a contender sounds preferable to sticking with a team focusing on 2026.”
Scherzer, widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of the 21st century, is a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer. With 3,408 strikeouts—the second-most since 2000—and 216 wins with a 3.16 ERA over 467 outings and 2,881 innings in his 18-year career, Scherzer’s resume is nothing short of legendary. The 40-year-old right-hander has also thrown two no-hitters and won World Series titles with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023.
Despite his storied career, Scherzer’s 2025 season has been limited thus far. His only start came on March 29 against the Baltimore Orioles, where he allowed two earned runs over three innings before exiting with right lat soreness. Subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list with right thumb inflammation, Scherzer appears to be nearing a return, having completed a 45-pitch bullpen session on May 26, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.
With the price of pitching typically skyrocketing at the trade deadline, the Yankees could view Scherzer as a cost-effective, high-impact addition. While Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Will Warren, and Ryan Yarbrough have all performed admirably, adding a playoff-tested veteran like Scherzer could elevate New York’s rotation to new heights. Though interdivisional trades are rare, the prospect of Scherzer donning pinstripes for what may be his final season could prove too enticing for the Yankees to pass up.