The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the offseason facing stiff competition from around the league as they look to re-sign ace left-hander Tarik Skubal.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner is expected to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent once the World Series concludes.
Los Angeles acquired the 29-year-old from the Detroit Tigers in early August after the sides failed to agree on a long-term extension. The Dodgers parted with prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith in the deal, hoping Skubal would help push them toward a third straight championship.
That pursuit ended with a National League Championship Series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Across 26 starts with Detroit and Los Angeles, Skubal went 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 186 strikeouts in 158 2/3 innings. Industry projections place his next contract in the range of $360 million to more than $400 million, a figure that would top the $325 million deal of teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently ranked the Toronto Blue Jays as the No. 3 most likely landing spot for Skubal. The Blue Jays have not been talked about a lot as a Skubal suitor, but the fit could make a lot of sense.
“The Blue Jays have steadily become the most aggressive front office in the American League. After finishing runner-up in the Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, Toronto extended Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at a $500 million price point and signed Dylan Cease in the early days of free agency last winter. A disappointing season should not preclude Toronto from maintaining its all-in approach; if anything, it’s more motivation for the Blue Jays to stack talent. This team was in the World Series a year ago,” Kline said.
He pointed to Toronto’s market and rotation pieces as further draws.
“Toronto is a great market, with a vibrant local culture and an entire country behind the Blue Jays. That ought to appeal to the vanity of a star like Skubal, who would team up with the projected AL Cy Young runner-up in Cease. The Jays also made a savvy trade for José Soriano at the deadline, adding another premium arm in his prime. Trey Yesavage, once healthy, could resume his ascent to stardom. The talent is there.”
Kline argued the addition would immediately elevate the Blue Jays.
“Skubal solidifies Toronto as a legitimate World Series contender coming into 2027. Moreover, the Jays have a lot of money coming off the books, which should free up the front office to spend recklessly where it counts. Toronto is always the ‘dark horse’ in these top-dollar bidding wars, but ruling out the Blue Jays would be foolish.”
The Dodgers’ investment in Skubal this summer gives them a head start in any bidding war, as he has already pitched in the clubhouse and postseason.
Blake Snell has publicly lobbied for a return, telling reporters he would “love nothing more” than for Skubal to stay in Los Angeles. Skubal himself has stayed quiet on the topic since the season ended.
“I’m not going to comment on my future really at all,” he said after the NLCS. “Today sucks, you know, and that’s kind of where my head’s at.”
Both clubs will also have to navigate uncertainty around the expiring collective bargaining agreement, which could reshape spending rules before any long-term deal is finalized.
Free agency opens the day after the World Series.
For the Dodgers, matching or exceeding Toronto’s interest will be essential if they want to keep the left-hander who helped anchor their rotation down the stretch.
