Blue Jays Nation

Report: Blue Jays expected to meet with Tarik Skubal

Report: Blue Jays expected to meet with Tarik Skubal
Photo credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Nov 11, 2026, 12:18 EST
Comments
The Toronto Blue Jays appear to be getting ready to hunt at the top of the free-agent market. 
On Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that free-agent pitcher Tarik Skubal is expected to meet with the Blue Jays’ brass next week. 
The Blue Jays are expected to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres, along with two mystery teams, next week in California. 
Skubal is coming off his fourth straight dominant season and is the clear top free-agent pitcher on the market this go-round. Across 26 starts between the Detroit Tigers and Dodgers, Skubal went 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Skubal struck out 186 batters over 158.2 innings pitched and limited opponents to a .217 average. 
The left-hander followed up his regular season dominance by making two strong postseason starts with the Dodgers. Skubal went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and struck out 14 batters across 11 innings, while limiting his opponents to a .184 average. 
Currently 29 year’s old, Skubal will be 30 later in November, which brings the length of his deal into question. Largely expected to surpass Gerrit Cole’s $324-million deal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325-million deal, Skubal could be positioned to receive $45 million to $50 million in average annual value with the term falling in the five-to-nine-year range. 
While healthy for most of his career, the two-time Cy Young Award winner was placed on the injured list in May for the first time since the 2022 season. On May 6, Skubal underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, but he was able to return on June 13 and remain healthy for the remainder of the season. 
The Blue Jays being involved with the big-name free agent comes as no surprise, as past offseasons have shown they had interest in Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, to name a few. While they ultimately did not land either of those two players, they signed Dylan Cease last winter to the largest free-agent contract in franchise history at seven years, $210 million. 
Skubal would instantly slot in alongside Cease at the top of Toronto’s rotation and further deepen a group that currently consists of José Soriano, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce. Heyman also reports that Skubal is expected to sign before December 1.

PRESENTED BY THE PERFECT 9 COLLECTION

Some baseball traditions never get old. The Perfect 9 Collection is our newest limited-edition collaboration with Blue Jays Today, inspired by the viral 9/9/9 challenge that has become a staple of baseball culture. Whether you’re taking on the challenge or just enjoying a day at the ballpark, this collection celebrates the moments that make baseball unforgettable. Featuring premium Levelwear apparel with elevated fabrics and modern fits, it’s designed for fans who live and breathe the game—on game day and beyond. Limited edition. Premium quality. Built for baseball fans. Shop the Perfect 9 Collection while it lasts. Exclusively at nationgear.ca


News
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News