Few pitchers in any era were more intimidating at their peak than Max Scherzer.
A firebrand who doesn't need any help firing himself up to get hitters out, Scherzer owns three Cy Young Awards, eight All-Star selections and more than 3,000 strikeouts, putting himself on track for an easy path to Cooperstown.
When he does go into the Hall of Fame, one would have to imagine he would go in wearing a Washington Nationals cap, if any. The Nationals, however, are just one of seven teams Scherzer has pitched for over his long career.
Here's a look at Scherzer's career timeline, from his start with the Arizona Diamondbacks all the way to his stint with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Max Scherzer career timeline
Arizona Diamondbacks, 2008-10
The Diamondbacks selected Scherzer No. 11 overall in the 2006 MLB Draft, and he made his major league debut less than two years later with 4.1 hitless innings against the Houston Astros in 2008.
Despite the immediate success, Scherzer's rookie season was largely spent either in Arizona's bullpen or in triple-A. He didn't become a full-time part of the Diamondbacks' rotation until 2009, when he posted a middling 4.12 ERA and wasn't yet the swing-and-miss master he would become.
Detroit Tigers, 2010-14
Scherzer was dealt to the Detroit Tigers ahead of the 2010 season in a deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees and Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks. It took some time, but the Tigers' gamble on a young Scherzer proved to be brilliant.
Scherzer was solid over his first two seasons in Detroit, but he started to show some of what made him one of MLB's most feared aces in 2012 with a league-best 11.1 strikeout per nine ratio and a 3.26 FIP that indicated his 3.74 ERA was partly the result of bad luck.
By 2013, Scherzer broke through as an undeniable ace, winning 21 games and coasting to his first Cy Young Award. After turning down a six-year, $144 million extension offer from the Tigers and betting on himself in a contract year, Scherzer set himself up for a payday with a 3.15 ERA over 220.1 innings in 2014.
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Washington Nationals, 2015-21
Scherzer's gamble paid off, as he inked a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Washington Nationals in January 2015.
Starting pitching contracts are always a massive risk because of the fragility of the human arm. Injuries derail careers year after year around the league, and Scherzer would be in his 30s for the entirety of his deal with the Nationals. This time, though, Washington got it right.
Scherzer's deal proved to be perhaps the wisest decision in franchise history, as he won two Cy Young Awards, threw two no-hitters, struck out a record-tying 20 batters in a game and won one World Series in a Nationals uniform. Scherzer posted a 2.80 ERA and 1,610 strikeouts over just under seven seasons with Washington.
Durability was just as valuable as anything else during Scherzer's time with the Nationals. His only notable absence spanned less than a month during the 2019 season, which ended with the franchise's first and only championship.
Los Angeles Dodgers, 2021
Facing a second consecutive season without a postseason berth, the Nationals dealt Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. Scherzer was in the final year of his contract, while Turner was under contract through 2022.
Scherzer was dominant in a Dodgers uniform, posting a 1.98 ERA over 11 starts and reaching 3,000 career strikeouts during his brief stint with the franchise, but L.A. was eliminated in the NLCS, preventing him from winning a second championship.
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New York Mets, 2022-23
Scherzer became the highest-paid pitcher in baseball in terms of annual salary when he agreed to a three-year, $130 million contract with the New York Mets after the 2021 season.
With owner Steve Cohen looking to pour more resources into the roster, he turned to Scherzer to become the ace of the Mets' staff. Scherzer largely delivered, posting a terrific 2.29 ERA and 0.91 WHIP despite being limited to 23 starts, but New York was eliminated in the Wild Card Series.
As the Mets teetered and Scherzer's effectiveness dipped, Cohen opted to sell at the 2023 trade deadline and dealt the veteran to the Texas Rangers.
Texas Rangers, 2023-24
Scherzer's first season in a Rangers uniform was a strange one, as injuries limited him to eight starts down the stretch and kept him off Texas' postseason roster until the ALCS. Once Scherzer did get back on the mound, he struggled to a 6.52 ERA before a back injury knocked him off the World Series roster. Still, Scherzer was able to add to his legacy with a second World Series ring when the Rangers dispatched the Diamondbacks in five games.
Injuries limited Scherzer to only nine starts in his only full season in Texas, which ended with the Rangers missing the postseason.
Toronto Blue Jays, 2025
Despite questions about his age and durability, Scherzer agreed to a one-year deal with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2025 season. A strong middle stretch of the season was bookended by a rough start and finish to the regular season. After carrying a 3.60 ERA through his first 11 starts in 2025, Scherzer posted an inflated 9.00 ERA over his final six starts and was left off Toronto's ALDS roster before being added back for the ALCS.
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How many teams has Max Scherzer played for?
Scherzer has split his MLB career between seven teams, though he spent nearly 12 seasons with the Tigers and Nationals, winning all three of his Cy Young Awards between the two franchises.
Scherzer has turned into more of a journeyman late in his career, spending time with five teams in a span of five seasons from 2021-25.
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Has Max Scherzer won a World Series?
Scherzer is a two-time World Series champion, winning with the Nationals in 2019 and the Rangers in 2023.
Scherzer was the ace of the Nationals' staff during the 2019 season, though it was Stephen Strasburg who earned World Series MVP honors after Washington knocked off the Houston Astros in seven games.
Scherzer's impact was more muted during the Rangers' World Series run in 2023, but he made three starts between the ALCS and postseason on his way to a second championship ring.
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How old is Max Scherzer?
Scherzer is 41 years old; he's set to turn 42 in July of 2026.
While fellow three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw already announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 season, Scherzer hasn't yet indicated his retirement plans.
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Max Scherzer career earnings
Scherzer has made $345.1 million through the 2025 season, placing him fourth in MLB history. He trails only Alex Rodriguez and former teammates Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera in career earnings.
Scherzer has been able to maximize his earnings by staying durable, hitting free agency at the right times and avoiding extensions. He earned himself another $66 million by rejecting the Tigers' extension offer ahead of 2014, and he was able to cash in again after the 2021 season by staying durable deep into his 30s.