The Toronto Blue Jays will once again reportedly be in the mix for a major free agent this winter.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Blue Jays are expected to get a meeting with superstar starting pitcher Tarik Skubal next week in Orange County, Calif.
The New York Mets, considered a potential frontrunner to land Skubal, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team he finished the 2026 season with after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers as well as the San Diego Padres will also get a meeting, according to Heyman, in addition to at least two “mystery teams.”
Heyman adds Skubal is expected to sign a record deal sometime in November before the MLB lockout begins on Dec. 1 when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
General manager Ross Atkins and the Jays have been in the running for numerous top tier free agents in recent years, including two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, slugger Juan Soto and outfielder Kyle Tucker, losing out each time.
The left-handed throwing Skubal posted a 2.72 ERA and 186 strikeouts over 26 starts and 158.2 inning pitched last season split between the Tigers and Dodgers.
Skubal had a 2.45 ERA over two playoff starts as the Dodgers were swept in the National League Championship Series by the eventual World Series winning Milwaukee Brewers.
The 29-year-old spent the first seven-plus years of his MLB career with the Tigers, becoming one of the game’s most elite pitcher in the process.
Skubal won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2024 and 2025, recording 61 wins alongside a 3.04 ERA and 1,005 strikeouts over 863.1 innings pitched with Detroit.