Blue Jays notes: Domínguez signs with White Sox, Scherzer content with waiting in free agency, Sanchez eyeing MLB return
In the aftermath of swinging and missing at Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, it’s been a relatively quiet week for the Toronto Blue Jays, whose roster appears set with spring training less than three weeks away.
But while they’re likely finished adding, at least from a high-level standpoint, we have received updates regarding a few of their free agents from last season.
Seranthony Domínguez Finds New Home
At long last, Domínguez is off the board as the top remaining free agent available amidst a severely diminished reliever market, inking a new deal with the Chicago White Sox on Friday. It’s a two-year contract worth $20 million, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $20 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Dominguez, 31, is expected to close for the White Sox, who use the money saved in the Luis Robert Jr. deal to continue adding this winter.
The Blue Jays acquired Domínguez via trade from the Baltimore Orioles last season, and the right-hander became an integral weapon at the back end of their bullpen alongside Louis Varland, Brendon Little and closer Jeff Hoffman. In 24 relief appearances, he pitched to a 3.00 ERA and 3.37 FIP, punching out close to a third of his batters faced.
Now with Chicago, whose front office has immediately reinvested the savings from trading Luis Robert Jr. earlier this week into bolstering its bullpen, Domínguez could become a coveted target leading up to next season’s trade deadline if he performs well in the first half.
Max Scherzer Could Sign After Opening Day
But the 41-year-old isn’t about to panic if that pathway doesn’t emerge before Opening Day. He feels more than content to continue waiting in hopes of an opportunity arising due to injury or underperformance during the 2026 season.
It’s a similar route that veteran reliever David Robertson opted for last season, signing with the Philadelphia Phillies back in late July after remaining unsigned all off-season. More famously, Roger Clemens returned to the New York Yankees just over a month into the 2007 season, suiting up for his age-44 campaign — the final one of his career.
Scherzer missed several months due to right thumb inflammation in ’25. But the future Hall-of-Famer successfully put that ailment behind him in the second half, excelling to a 3.86 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 44.1 innings (eight starts) before hitting a wall over his final two regular-season starts.
Aaron Sanchez Receiving Interest From MLB Clubs
Following a return-to-form performance in the Dominican Winter League, earning him the Pitcher of the Year award thanks to his 1.55 ERA and impressive strikeout-versus-walk totals (34-9) across 46.1 innings, Sanchez hopes to return to Major League Baseball next season, per The Athletic’s report.
Sanchez last pitched for Toronto at triple-A Buffalo in 2024, struggling to an inflated 7.92 ERA and 7.29 FIP across 14 starts, spanning 61.1 innings. It’s been nearly four years since his last major league appearance, dating back to the ’22 season with the Minnesota Twins.