Should the Nationals Bring Back Max Scherzer in 2026?
The Washington Nationals are rebuilding — but should Max Scherzer return to DC in 2026? We break down the baseball case, the business case, and the fan case.
In brief
The Washington Nationals have not confirmed any pursuit of Max Scherzer as of 2026, but the conversation is legitimate. Scherzer, 41, is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and a central figure in the franchise's 2019 World Series title. A reunion would carry enormous symbolic weight — and real baseball risk. Whether the Nationals should bring him back depends on where Mike Rizzo's rebuild stands and what Scherzer has left in that right arm.
⚡ KEY TAKEAWAYS
Max Scherzer, 41, is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and the face of Washington's 2019 World Series championship rotation.
The Nationals are mid-rebuild under GM Mike Rizzo, with top prospects like James Wood and Dylan Crews now in the major league picture.
A Scherzer return would offer veteran mentorship and marquee marketing value — but carries significant injury and performance risk at his age.
The financial calculus matters: Washington's payroll remains well below the MLB luxury tax threshold, giving ownership flexibility.
Any reunion would need to serve the rebuild's timeline, not just the nostalgia cycle.
Max Scherzer and Washington: A Relationship Built on October Glory
Max Scherzer arrived at Nationals Park in 2015 via a then-stunning seven-year, $210 million deal — the richest pitching contract in baseball history at the time. What followed was one of the most decorated runs any starting pitcher has produced in a single city. He threw two no-hitters in 2015, won the NL Cy Young in 2016 and 2017, and then delivered the postseason performance that DC still talks about over drinks at Bluejacket or dinner in Navy Yard: a gutted, pain-killing-fueled start in the 2019 World Series that turned the series' momentum in Washington's favor.
The Nationals traded Scherzer to the New York Mets at the 2021 trade deadline, accepting the reality of a teardown. He then signed a three-year, $130 million deal with the Mets — a contract that was ultimately derailed by injuries, including a significant oblique strain and Tommy John surgery in 2023. His 2024 and early 2026 availability has been limited, and that injury history sits at the center of every serious conversation about a potential return to Nationals Park.
The Baseball Case: What Scherzer Could Still Offer the Nationals' Rotation
Washington's starting rotation entering 2026 is a work in progress. MacKenzie Gore has flashed front-of-rotation potential when healthy. Patrick Corbin's contract finally rolled off the books, freeing financial and psychological space. But the Nationals lack a proven, commanding veteran presence at the top of a staff — exactly the kind of pitcher who can set a professional standard for a clubhouse full of 22-and 23-year-olds learning to play at the major league level.
That's the most credible argument for a Scherzer reunion: not what he does on the mound in October, but what he does in the film room in April. According to Baseball Reference, Scherzer's career ERA sits at 3.16 across 3,300-plus innings. Even a diminished version of that, paired with his preparation habits and competitive intensity, offers value. The Nationals' young arms — including prospects moving through the Syracuse Mets pipeline — would benefit from proximity to a pitcher who has never once mailed it in.
The risk is real, though. Tommy John recovery at 40-plus is brutal and unpredictable. If Scherzer can deliver 120 innings at a 3.80 ERA, that's a win. If he breaks down in June and costs the team a roster spot and $15 million, it stalls momentum at a critical developmental moment.
James Wood, Dylan Crews, and the Rebuild's Actual Timeline
General Manager Mike Rizzo has been methodical. The 2021-2023 teardown produced one of MLB's deepest farm systems, and the fruits are arriving. Outfielder James Wood — ranked among MLB's top prospects heading into 2025 by MLB Pipeline — made his major league debut and immediately drew comparisons to an early-career Bryce Harper in terms of raw tools. Dylan Crews, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, is pushing for consistent at-bats. The infield core is developing at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester.
This matters for the Scherzer conversation because the rebuild's competitive window is closer than the standings suggest. The Nationals are not a 2028 team. They are positioning for genuine contention by 2027, and the decisions made in 2026 — free agent signings, roster construction, trade deadline posture — will define whether that window opens on schedule.
Bringing Scherzer back on a one-year, incentive-laden deal — something in the $10–15 million base range with performance bonuses — would fit that timeline without mortgaging future flexibility. It signals to Wood, Crews, and the rest of the roster that ownership is serious about winning, not just developing. For context on how DC's sports power structure operates during rebuild cycles, see our DC Power Players Index.
The Business and Fan Case: Nostalgia Has Real Market Value in DC
Nationals Park in Southeast DC has struggled with attendance since the 2019 championship. The team drew under 1.8 million fans in recent seasons — a far cry from the sold-out crowds that watched Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, and Scherzer carry the franchise to its only title. The ballpark itself remains one of MLB's best venues, sitting steps from the Navy Yard Metro station and surrounded by the continued development of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood.
Scherzer returning to the mound in red and white would move tickets. It would trend on DC sports radio — 106.7 The Fan and ESPN 980 would dedicate full weeks to it. It would give the Washington Post's Nationals beat a legitimate storyline that carries the team through spring training and into opening week. In a city where the Commanders' resurgence under Jayden Daniels has recaptured much of the sports conversation, the Nationals need a moment. Scherzer is a moment.
That's not a trivial consideration. Revenue drives front-office flexibility. A bump in attendance and merchandise tied to a Scherzer return could fund the next bullpen piece or the corner outfielder the team needs. Track Washington's evolving sports and political influence landscape on our DC Political Influence Rankings and DC Power Index.
Why This Matters in Washington
Washington is a city that understands legacy. It is built on institutions, on the weight of names, on the idea that certain people belong in certain places because of what they built there. Max Scherzer belongs in Washington the way Roger Federer belonged at Wimbledon — and DC fans know the difference between a victory lap and a genuine contribution. The question the Nationals' front office must answer is whether Scherzer in 2026 is the latter. If the medicals are clean, if the motivation is real, and if the money is structured correctly, the answer should be yes. The Capitol Riverfront deserves another chapter.
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FAQ: Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals in 2026
Q: Has Max Scherzer officially expressed interest in returning to the Washington Nationals? A: As of 2026, no formal public statement from Scherzer or the Nationals confirms active negotiations. The conversation exists primarily among analysts, fans, and beat reporters covering the Federal Baseball community.
Q: How old is Max Scherzer and is he still pitching? A: Scherzer turns 42 in July 2026. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and has been working toward a return. His availability and effectiveness remain the central question for any team considering signing him.
Q: What is the Washington Nationals' current payroll situation? A: The Nationals have operated well below MLB's luxury tax threshold — set at $241 million for 2026 — giving them meaningful financial flexibility to add veterans without triggering penalties.
Q: Who are the Washington Nationals' top prospects in 2026? A: James Wood and Dylan Crews headline the position player talent, while several pitching prospects are advancing through the system. The farm system that was built through the 2021–2023 teardown is now producing major league contributors.
Q: Did Max Scherzer win a World Series with the Washington Nationals? A: Yes. Scherzer was a cornerstone of the 2019 Washington Nationals team that defeated the Houston Astros in seven games to win the franchise's first and only World Series championship.
Q: Where do the Nationals play their home games? A: The Washington Nationals play at Nationals Park, located at 1500 South Capitol Street SE in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, accessible via the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station on the Green Line.
The bottom line: Bringing Max Scherzer back to Washington is not a sentimental fantasy — it's a legitimate baseball and business conversation. The Nationals have the payroll space, the developmental need for veteran leadership, and the marketing incentive to make a one-year, incentive-heavy deal worth exploring. The variable that matters most is the one nobody outside the training room can answer: what does his right arm have left? If the answer is 150 innings of competitive starting pitching, Mike Rizzo should make the call. Nationals Park would be electric.
What to watch next: Monitor Scherzer's spring throwing sessions and any MLB pre-signing physicals that surface in reporting. Watch the Nationals' offseason roster moves — particularly rotation depth additions — for signals about how aggressively Rizzo is pursuing 2027 contention. And track James Wood's development arc: his ceiling may ultimately make the Scherzer conversation irrelevant by redefining what kind of team Washington is building.
Reporting drawn from: Federal Baseball. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
