Max Scherzer is joining the Toronto Blue Jays, agreeing to a 15.5 million, one-year contract on Thursday, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced and was pending a physical.

The Toronto Blue Jays have had as poor of luck as any organization in free agency in recent offseasons after narrowly falling short on numerous big-time names the last two winters.

Scherzer was limited to nine starts with Texas last year, but ranks second among active pitchers in strikeouts, wins, and innings.

The addition of Santander, who hit 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles last season, follows the deep-pocketed Jays’ failed pursuits of Shohei Ohtani last offseason and of Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki this winter.

More: Eight years after beanballing with Tigers, Tommy Kahnle wants to help get them a ring The 40-year-old Scherzer was limited to nine starts with Texas last year, going 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA. The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list while he recovered from lower back surgery.

Max Scherzer signing with the Toronto Blue Jays could wind up improving the team's chances of luring Pete Alonso north of the border.