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MLB insider believes the Blue Jays are legitimate contenders in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes

Adding another former Cy Young winner may not be that far-fetched.
ByEdward Eng
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Oct 11, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) reacts during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Oct 11, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) reacts during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Toronto Blue Jays will be aiming to bolster their roster ahead of next season following a first to worst in the AL East campaign. What better way to instantly put themselves back into contending status than to go for the biggest fish on the free agent market this offseason in pitcher Tarik Skubal?

At least that’s what MLB insider Ben Nicholson-Smith believes the Blue Jays could seriously do in the coming weeks. In a recent episode of The Fan Pregame with Ailish and Justin, Nicholson-Smith indicated that Toronto is in great position to give themselves a shot at the former two-time Cy Young winner.

“We know they (the Blue Jays) are one of the few teams with the willingness and resources to go after a player (Skubal) of his calibre,” Nicholson-Smith said.

The Blue Jays are losing starting pitchers Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer to free agency. That gives them a hole in the rotation they need to fill . Being able to recruit Skubal to Toronto would be a dream come true for Blue Jays fans everywhere. After all, the 29-year-old left-hander has been arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball for much of the past few seasons.

Skubal had compiled a 66-44 record with a 3.02 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, with 1075 strikeouts in 925.1 innings pitched over his seven year career. He was coming off consecutive Cy Young winning campaigns in 2024 and 2025 before battling an injury in 2026 that may have cost him a third straight award.

Nevertheless, Skubal still posted elite numbers, with a 12-7 record, 2.72 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, along with 186 strikeouts in 158.2 innings pitched over 26 starts split between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tarik Skubal could turn Blue Jays rotation into the most fearsom in the AL

By joining the Blue Jays' rotation, Skubal would give Toronto a formidable foursome. He would join Cy Young award nominee Dylan Cease, José Soriano and Trey Yesavage. In addition, the left-handedness of Skubal would help add some diversity in the rotation, which has been right-handed heavy the past few seasons.

By reeling in the 29-year-old ace, it would also keep him away from any of the potential playoff contenders that could get in the path of the Blue Jays and their playoff hopes.

As Nicholson-Smith did iterate, the New York Mets might be the frontrunner for Skubal’s services. Skubal was spotted working out with Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis this past week. That probably means absolutely nothing at all, but it is fun to wonder what could be and start drawing on these connections that tie Skubal to the Blue Jays.

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