Two pitchers who are all but certain to be inducted into the Hall of Fame remain on the free-agent market. MLB.com asked, "Why on earth?" and focused on Cy Young winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
Scherzer, born in 1984 and 41, and Verlander, born in 1983 and one year older than Scherzer, are still free agents. They were among the very best pitchers in Major League Baseball. But is it because of their age? The 2026 season is approaching and they have not found new teams.
MLB.com said, "Scherzer and Verlander will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It would be understandable if the two players in their 40s announced their retirements and prepared for Hall of Fame induction, but neither player seems ready to retire yet."
Scherzer debuted in the big leagues with Arizona in 2008 and compiled a career 221 wins and 3,489 strikeouts. He boasts a glittering resume including one American League Cy Young Award, two All-Star selections in the AL, two National League Cy Young Awards, and six All-Star selections in the NL.
Verlander is no slouch either. Verlander, who debuted with Detroit in 2005, compiled a career 266 wins and 3,553 strikeouts, and won three American League Cy Young Awards, nine All-Star selections, and one MVP. Both pitchers reigned as top-tier major league arms for a long time.
Yet they remain on the free-agent market. MLB.com wrote, "Both pitchers have established themselves as the best pitchers of the 21st century. But can they still contribute to a team in 2026?" According to MLB.com, a source in the American League said, "Both players still have something to show."
The source added, "Their skills themselves have dipped somewhat compared with the very high standards, but their extensive experience can help in ways that don't solely rely on pitching ability, such as contributing to the starting rotation and coaching staff."
MLB.com sought market assessments of the two veteran pitchers. "Several other officials also agreed that 'they still have stuff.' But they agreed that expecting them to stay healthy and productive over 162 games might be unrealistic," it reported.
Age seems unavoidable. In fact, Verlander managed five wins in the 2024 season and four wins in the 2025 season. Scherzer also recorded only two wins in 2024 and five wins in 2025.
According to MLB.com, a source in the American League said, "Both players are not what they used to be. But they can still help a team." About Scherzer, he said, "He showed much better performances in the playoffs than at the end of the regular season. The problem is you can't give him 3–4 weeks of rest between starts. It might be good for the player, but it's a difficult decision from a team's perspective."
Ultimately, concerns that a 40-something body cannot consistently endure a full season appear to prevail.<
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