{"id":114600,"date":"2026-02-23T12:33:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T17:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=114600"},"modified":"2026-02-23T12:33:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T17:33:26","slug":"how-max-scherzers-2026-free-agency-mirrors-roger-clemens-2007-yankees-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/23\/how-max-scherzers-2026-free-agency-mirrors-roger-clemens-2007-yankees-return\/","title":{"rendered":"How Max Scherzer\u2019s 2026 Free Agency Mirrors Roger Clemens\u2019 2007 Yankees Return"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"226\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Max Scherzer<\/span><\/span> vs. <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Roger Clemens<\/span><\/span> \u2014 Two Aces, One Late-Season Blueprint<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"228\" data-end=\"343\">There\u2019s a familiar tension building around baseball as Opening Day 2026 approaches: <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/scherma01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Scherzer<\/a> is still unsigned.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"530\">Spring Training games are underway. Rotations are forming. Prospects are fighting for the fifth spot. And one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation remains on the open market.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"532\" data-end=\"567\">If that sounds familiar, it should.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"569\" data-end=\"743\">In 2007, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clemero02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Roger Clemens<\/a> didn\u2019t just join a team late \u2014 he made it an event. And now, nearly two decades later, Scherzer may be positioning himself for a similar late entrance.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"750\" data-end=\"797\">The Clemens Blueprint: 2007 with the Yankees<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/02\/Unknown-8.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"254\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-114601\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"801\" data-end=\"1019\">When Clemens rejoined the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/NYY\/2007.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">New York Yankees<\/span><\/span><\/a> on May 6, 2007, he did it theatrically \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/12\/11\/a-look-back-at-the-roger-clemens-trade-to-the-new-york-yankees\/\" target=\"_self\">appearing in the owner\u2019s box at Yankee Stadium during the seventh-inning stretch<\/a> to announce his return.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1021\" data-end=\"1129\">The deal was bold: a prorated one-year contract worth $28 million, equating to roughly $1 million per start.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1131\" data-end=\"1183\">But the money wasn\u2019t the headline. The strategy was.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1185\" data-end=\"1495\">Clemens skipped the grind of April. He preserved his body. He joined a contender once the direction of the season became clearer. His first start came on June 9. He finished the year 6\u20136 with a 4.18 ERA, recorded his 350th career win, and ultimately saw his postseason cut short by a hamstring injury in the ALDS.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1497\" data-end=\"1521\">The approach was simple:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"1605\">\n<li data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"1548\">\n<p data-start=\"1524\" data-end=\"1548\">Avoid early-season wear.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1577\">\n<p data-start=\"1551\" data-end=\"1577\">Target meaningful innings.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1578\" data-end=\"1605\">\n<p data-start=\"1580\" data-end=\"1605\">Arrive fresh for October.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1607\" data-end=\"1645\">It was legacy management in real time.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1652\" data-end=\"1707\">Scherzer\u2019s 2026 Situation: Silence Before the Storm?<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1711\" data-end=\"1741\">Now consider Scherzer in 2026.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1743\" data-end=\"1890\">At 41, the future Hall of Famer remains unsigned as camps open. Unlike Clemens in 2007, there\u2019s no orchestrated announcement \u2014 just a waiting game.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1892\" data-end=\"1938\">But make no mistake: waiting can be strategic.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1940\" data-end=\"2006\">Scherzer has pitched deep into October across multiple contenders:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2174\">\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/ARI\/2008.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/DET\/2010.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Detroit Tigers<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/WSN\/2015.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Washington Nationals<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/LAD\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/NYM\/2022.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">New York Mets<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/TEX\/2023.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Texas Rangers<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2007\" data-end=\"2048\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/TOR\/2025.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Toronto Blue Jays<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2176\" data-end=\"2323\">He\u2019s earned 3 Cy Young Awards, 2 World Series rings, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/03\/max-scherzer-blue-jays-all-in-strategy\/\" target=\"_self\">the respect of every clubhouse he\u2019s entered<\/a>. He doesn\u2019t need 32 starts to validate his r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2325\" data-end=\"2370\">The question becomes: does he even want them?<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2377\" data-end=\"2427\">Why Waiting Until After Opening Day Makes Sense<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2429\" data-end=\"2539\">If Scherzer follows the Clemens model, signing after Opening Day \u2014 or even in May \u2014 offers several advantages:<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2541\" data-end=\"2572\">1\ufe0f\u20e3 Physical Preservation<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2573\" data-end=\"2738\">Scherzer has battled nagging injuries in recent seasons. By skipping the first month, he could reduce cumulative strain and keep his arm fresher for the stretch run.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2740\" data-end=\"2764\">2\ufe0f\u20e3 Market Clarity<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2765\" data-end=\"2919\">By late April or May, contenders and pretenders reveal themselves. Rotation injuries emerge. Teams with postseason aspirations suddenly become aggressive.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2921\" data-end=\"3036\">In 2007, the Yankees knew exactly why they were bringing Clemens back. Scherzer could benefit from similar clarity.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3038\" data-end=\"3066\">3\ufe0f\u20e3 Financial Leverage<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3067\" data-end=\"3248\">While teams today are more analytics-driven than in 2007, urgency still inflates value. A club desperate for a stabilizing No. 2 or No. 3 starter might offer incentive-heavy upside.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3250\" data-end=\"3343\">He may not command Clemens\u2019 $1 million-per-start shock value \u2014 but scarcity creates leverage.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3350\" data-end=\"3384\">Key Differences Between the Two<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3386\" data-end=\"3425\">Despite the parallels, the eras differ.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3427\" data-end=\"3553\"><strong data-start=\"3427\" data-end=\"3446\">Clemens in 2007,<\/strong> was 44 and treated the regular season like a ramp-up to October. His mystique was larger than the numbers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3555\" data-end=\"3695\"><strong data-start=\"3555\" data-end=\"3575\">Scherzer in 2026<\/strong> is 41 and still carries elite strikeout capability when healthy. His intensity is unmatched. His preparation is obsessive.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3697\" data-end=\"3742\">But modern front offices operate differently:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3743\" data-end=\"3840\">\n<li data-start=\"3743\" data-end=\"3775\">\n<p data-start=\"3745\" data-end=\"3775\">Velocity trends are dissected.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3776\" data-end=\"3802\">\n<p data-start=\"3778\" data-end=\"3802\">Spin rates are analyzed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3803\" data-end=\"3840\">\n<p data-start=\"3805\" data-end=\"3840\">Durability projections are modeled.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3842\" data-end=\"3877\">Teams are cautious with aging arms.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3879\" data-end=\"3988\">That said, analytics also confirm one timeless truth: postseason baseball is about dominance in short bursts.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3990\" data-end=\"4021\">And Scherzer still brings that.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"4028\" data-end=\"4057\">October Is the Real Target<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_94342\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-94342\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-94342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-2048x1364.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23711980_168403884_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-94342\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jul 9, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Andrew Knizner (12) looks on as manager Bruce Bochy (15) pulls starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"4059\" data-end=\"4106\">This is where the comparison becomes strongest.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4108\" data-end=\"4235\">Neither Clemens in 2007 nor Scherzer in 2026 is pitching for 180 regular-season innings. They\u2019re pitching for October leverage.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4237\" data-end=\"4276\">Imagine a contender entering June with:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4277\" data-end=\"4374\">\n<li data-start=\"4277\" data-end=\"4301\">\n<p data-start=\"4279\" data-end=\"4301\">A shaky third starter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4302\" data-end=\"4346\">\n<p data-start=\"4304\" data-end=\"4346\">A playoff rotation lacking swing-and-miss.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4347\" data-end=\"4374\">\n<p data-start=\"4349\" data-end=\"4374\">A clubhouse needing an edge.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"4376\" data-end=\"4557\">Adding Scherzer midseason instantly alters a series. His track record in elimination games speaks for itself. His presence changes preparation routines. His intensity is contagious.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4559\" data-end=\"4606\">That\u2019s exactly what the Yankees sought in 2007.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"4613\" data-end=\"4636\">Will History Repeat?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4638\" data-end=\"4784\">Clemens\u2019 2007 campaign ended without a ring, but it proved something important: an elite veteran can still impact a season even with a late start.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4786\" data-end=\"4889\">If Scherzer waits until after Opening Day in 2026, it won\u2019t signal decline \u2014 it may signal calculation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4891\" data-end=\"4938\">He doesn\u2019t need March.<br data-start=\"4913\" data-end=\"4916\" \/>He may not need April.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4940\" data-end=\"5012\">He needs a contender.<br data-start=\"4961\" data-end=\"4964\" \/>He needs meaningful innings.<br data-start=\"4992\" data-end=\"4995\" \/>He needs October.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5014\" data-end=\"5140\">In a league obsessed with youth and velocity, Scherzer represents something different: competitive fury refined by experience.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5142\" data-end=\"5206\">If a team calls in May, don\u2019t be surprised if \u201cMad Max\u201d answers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5208\" data-end=\"5274\">Because like Clemens in 2007, he won\u2019t be signing to fill innings.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5276\" data-end=\"5316\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">He\u2019ll be signing to tilt a pennant race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Max Scherzer vs. Roger Clemens \u2014 Two Aces, One Late-Season Blueprint There\u2019s a familiar tension building around baseball as Opening Day 2026 approaches: Max Scherzer is still unsigned. Spring Training games are underway. Rotations are forming. Prospects are fighting for the fifth spot. And one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation remains on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5710,"featured_media":106113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"786","footnotes":""},"categories":[4454,2,1071],"tags":[79,69,2262,41,760],"class_list":["post-114600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baseball-history","category-featured","category-mlb","tag-max-scherzer","tag-mlb","tag-mlb-free-agency","tag-new-york-yankees","tag-roger-clemens"],"modified_by":"Eddie Lennon, Staff Writer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5710"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114600"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114602,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114600\/revisions\/114602"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}