Toronto Blue Jays Tarik Skubal free agency meeting, Digi Mart USA News: The Toronto Blue Jays are pursuing another major free-agent target. Star free agent Tarik Skubal will meet with the Blue Jays next week in California, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, who reported the news on Wednesday.
Skubal will also meet with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, per Heyman. The report places Toronto among several clubs competing for the top starter on the market.
Starting pitching has emerged as the Blue Jays’ top priority in free agency, Sportsnet reported Tuesday, with the team “seriously exploring fits for some prominent arms,” per Ben Nicholson-Smith. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said Tuesday that the club would look to add to its offense and starting pitching.
Skubal finished last season with the Dodgers after a mid-season trade from the Detroit Tigers, where he had previously played his entire career. Between the two clubs last season, he posted a 12-7 record, a 2.72 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP with 186 strikeouts in 158.2 innings.
The left-hander won the American League Cy Young Award as a member of the Tigers in each of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In Toronto, he would join a rotation that already includes Cy Young finalist Dylan Cease, Jose Soriano and Trey Yesavage.
When asked about being aggressive in free agency, Atkins said that is not the driving force behind the team’s moves. “For us, it’s about being prepared and not about being aggressive,” he said.
“And you only can be aggressive and effective if you are prepared.”
Some agents have suggested that the left-handed relief market could move sooner than the rest of free agency. Atkins acknowledged that the Blue Jays are aiming to add to their bullpen, adding, “In an ideal world, we get through an off-season where we can add to every aspect of our team.”
Source reporting includes files from Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
