logo
Report: Tarik Skubal unlikely to be moved, Blue Jays will need to look elsewhere
alt
Photo credit: © Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 11, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 11, 2025, 05:12 EST
Comments
Tarik Skubal could be the best pitcher available this off-season, either through trade or free agency.
Over the past few weeks, it has been speculated that the Detroit Tigers could listen to offers about Skubal. In Bob Nightengale’s latest article for USA Today, he noted that while the Tigers will listen to offers, they’d have to be “completely overwhelmed” to pull the trigger.
It was reported in mid-October by Jon Heyman of The New York Post that there’s a $250 million gap between what Skubal wants and what the Tigers want to give him. It’s speculated that Skubal will test free agency when he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season.
Acquiring Skubal would give any team a new ace. However, since the Tigers need an “overwhelming” offer, it seems unlikely that any team would make a move this off-season. For the Toronto Blue Jays, it would mean giving up Trey Yesavage and a metric ton more. While Skubal is an ace, his impending free agency will make teams cautious to trade for him if they can just sign him next autumn. It could be worth it to revisit acquiring Skubal before the 2026 trade deadline, depending on how the Tigers are performing.
Skubal, drafted in the ninth round of the 2018 draft, is set to win his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award. Last season with the Tigers, the left-handed pitcher had a 2.21 ERA and 2.45 FIP in 195.1 innings pitched, posting a 32.2 K% and 4.4 BB%. His numbers improved from the 2024 season, as he had a 2.39 ERA and 2.49 FIP in 192 innings pitched in 2024.
Another starter who has been in trade rumours is Milwaukee Brewers starter Freddy Peralta. Like Skubal, Nightengale poured cold water on that rumour, noting that the Brewers want to retain him as his contract is a steal. Last season, Peralta finished the year with a 2.70 ERA and 3.64 FIP in 176.2 innings pitched.
Although neither Skubal nor Peralta is likely to be on the move this off-season, there are plenty of starting pitchers who can bolster the Blue Jays’ rotation. In a recent article for Sportsnet, Shi Davidi linked the team to Michael King, Ranger Suárez, Dylan Cease, and Tatsuya Imai, four pitchers who could potentially fill the ace role for the Jays heading into 2026.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Blue Jays do this off-season, as there are some legitimate holes they’ll need to plug in free agency.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Featured

News

Breaking News