Max Scherzer’s 8-year-old daughter wanted her father back with the Blue Jays so much she wrote a letter to the team in December expressing her hope for his return to Toronto.

After the three-time All-Star agreed Wednesday to a $3 million, one-year contract, the pitcher’s wife, Erica May-Scherzer, posted a copy of the handwritten note by Brooke. May-Scherzer said her daughter wrote the letter, dated Dec. 15, and asked her parents to mail it to the team.

“Dear Blue Jays,” the note began, “I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter”

An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is a 41-year-old right-hander with a 221-117 record and a 3.22 ERA for Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14), Washington (2015-21), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), New York Mets (2022-23), Texas (2023-24) and Toronto (2025). He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts — 20 behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

He was went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts and 85 innings for the Blue Jays last season, and he made three starts in the postseason, beating Seattle 8-2 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. He started Games 3 and 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

CEASE MAKES HIS TORONTO DEBUT

Dylan Cease gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings and recorded three strikeouts in his spring training debut with the Blue Jays on Saturday in a 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Dunedin, Fla.

It was a much-anticipated debut for Cease, who came to Toronto on a $210 million, seven-year contract.

Cease struck out Phillies stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the first inning. He was relieved by Jesse Hahn after giving up a solo homer to Bryan De La Cruz with two outs in the second.

The 30-year-old Cease signed with the Blue Jays following two seasons with San Diego. The right-hander was 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 2025 and 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA in 2024. Cease has a 3.88 ERA and is 65-58 in seven seasons, including five with the Chicago White Sox.

Josh Rivera hit a two-run homer in a four-run sixth inning to give Toronto its first lead in the game.

TIGERS’ MELTON LIKELY OUT FOR OPENING DAY

Detroit Tigers right-hander Troy Melton is not expected to be available for the start of the season due to inflammation in his right elbow.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Friday that Melton won’t throw for one to two weeks. Melton told the Detroit Free-Press on Saturday he is “not too concerned over anything too long-term.”

Melton, 25, was 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 16 games, including four starts, as a rookie in 2025.

Melton’s chances of earning a spot in the rotation took a hit when the Tigers agreed to deals with veteran starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez.