The Max Scherzer future is the central question of this week’s MLB hot stove chatter, and the answer will not come quietly. According to a New York Post report, the 42-year-old right-hander intends to pitch in “lockout games” this offseason as a way of testing whether his body and his competitiveness will carry him through another major league season.
The timing matters. The collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, which means a work stoppage could freeze offseason activity. Players on opposing teams already train together in the winter, and those informal sessions are expected to become more organized in the event of a lockout. For Scherzer, those games will serve as a personal audition rather than a team exercise.
A Short but Eventful 2026 in Toronto
Scherzer made 18 starts for the Blue Jays in 2026, a season interrupted by injuries. His final outing offered a reminder of what he can still do: seven strikeouts across seven innings while allowing one earned run in Game 162. If that was the last start of his career, it was a fitting exit for a pitcher whose competitiveness has defined him.
His place in the record book is already secure. Scherzer ranks ninth all-time with 3,557 strikeouts, three behind former Tigers teammate Justin Verlander. That gap is small enough to make another season tempting, though he was not ranked among the top 50 free agents in this class.
Ty France Attracting Multi-Team Interest
The market for free agent first baseman Ty France is moving faster than the calendar might suggest. According to The Athletic, multiple teams have interest, and a deal could come together quickly. France, 32, is coming off a career year in 2026 after opening his stance slightly, a change that unlocked more hard-hit ability. He is also regarded as a terrific defensive first baseman.
He was ranked as the 23rd-best free agent in this offseason’s class and the second-best available first baseman. The specific suitors are not yet clear, but the list of contenders who could use a right-handed bat with power is not short. The Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mets, Rangers and Padres stand out as potential landing spots, with San Diego representing his most recent home. Given his career year and the surprising lack of right-handed power around the game, France could command a multi-year contract.
Taiwanese Reliever Jyun-Yue Tseng Posted
The Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League have posted right-handed reliever Jyun-Yue Tseng for MLB teams, according to the Associated Press. Officially, Tseng has until Dec. 22 to sign, though the expected lockout means his real deadline is Dec. 1.
Tseng, 25, pitched for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic in both 2023 and 2026. This past season he saved 25 games with a 1.80 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings. His fastball typically sits in the mid-90s but has reached 100 mph in the past. His secondary pitches need work if he is to carve out an MLB career beyond a middle-relief role. He was not ranked among the top 50 free agents.
What to Watch Next
Three threads will shape the coming days. Scherzer’s lockout games will provide the first real signal about his intentions. France’s market could produce a signing before the CBA deadline forces a pause. And Tseng’s posting clock is effectively running down to Dec. 1, giving teams a narrow window to evaluate a power arm from Taiwan.
The offseason is barely more than a week old, but the pressure points are already clear. Scherzer’s decision, France’s landing spot and Tseng’s signing will all be resolved under the shadow of the Dec. 1 deadline.
