MLB host Greg Amsinger thinks Max Scherzer would be a good fit for the Cardinals

Greg Amsinger, a host on MLB Network, was recently a guest on 104.1 KMOX Sports with Tom Ackerman. The former St. Louisan became animated when discussing potential Cardinals offseason plans, and he mentioned one interesting free agent in particular: starting pitcher Max Scherzer.

Scherzer was born in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Parkway Central High School and the University of Missouri. He was drafted in 2026 by the Arizona Diamondbacks eleventh overall, and he has put together one of the best careers of his generation. His name is mentioned with other greats like Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, and Zack Greinke.

This past year, Scherzer posted a 5.74 ERA across 18 starts (84.2 innings). He struck out 68 batters, and he had a 5.11 FIP. Mad Max suffered a thumb injury and other recurring injuries, thus limiting his amount of time on the field.

This is now the third straight year that Scherzer has posted sub-par numbers or been injured for the majority of the season. He pitched only 43.1 innings in 2024, albeit with a respectable 3.95 ERA. He threw only 85 innings in 2025 with a 5.19 ERA. He is, after all, 42 years old now.

Signing Max Scherzer could be a mutually beneficial deal for the St. Louis Cardinals and the future Hall of Famer.

"Do you know who I would love to see the Cardinals go get?" said Amsinger excitedly. "Bring back St. Louis's own Max Scherzer.

"Just to impact the young arms. Just to have a Hall of Famer in a Cardinal uniform again...bring him back for one more year. He wanted to come to St. Louis when he signed a free agent contract years ago with the Nationals."

The Cardinals did indeed have a chance at signing Scherzer in 2014. Cardinals' resident ace Adam Wainwright lobbied for Scherzer, but the Cardinals' brass opted to not sign the St. Louisan. Scherzer then signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

Amsinger continued defending his idea saying, "Bring Max Scherzer back for one year. He wants to pass Justin Verlander on the all-time strikeout list," said Amsinger. "I think his wisdom, his approach to attacking every start the way he is, would help these young guys have someone to look up to."

The obvious elephant in the room is Scherzer's recent production. He simply hasn't been effective or healthy these last three seasons. However, the Cardinals wouldn't be signing him to be vintage Max Scherzer. Instead, they would sign him to help fill out a rotation that has Kyle Leahy, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, and Quinn Mathews virtually penned in as starters in 2027. Liam Doyle, Tanner Franklin, Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Cooper Hjerpe are also options out of spring training, though Hjerpe is the most likely of that group to break camp with the MLB squad.

Scherzer would provide some additional depth and nearly two decades of major-league wisdom for these young players. He could help them learn the ins and outs of the game and how to prepare for starts in the majors. His energy would be infectious for the culture of the clubhouse, and he could become a mentor for Liam Doyle, another fiery pitcher with a history of big-time reactions on the mound.

Max Scherzer could leapfrog Justin Verlander on the all-time strikeouts list while playing for his hometown team in one final swansong in 2027. He's waiting to "see how things unfold" this offseason regarding one final season, and the Cardinals could get themselves one more Hall of Famer in the Lou.

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