The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a trade for Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, but he will be a free agent after the year ends.
The Dodgers gave up two top-100 prospects and one of their organization's top-30 prospects to land him, so losing him after a few months would be a huge blow, especially if they don't win the World Series. However, many teams will be looking to sign him to what is likely the largest free-agent pitcher contract in history. CBS Sports' Mike Axisa listed the Toronto Blue Jays as a potential landing spot, and it makes a ton of sense.
Even though the Blue Jays are not having the season they expected to after winning the American League, they know they are not far from a championship. Injuries have held them back this year, but adding Skubal could have them right back in the Fall Classic.
For one, the Blue Jays have shown they are not afraid to spend. They have pursued Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Juan Soto in recent years. Last offseason, they spent big on Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto. If they want to, they can certainly make a push for Skubal.
Additionally, they simply need starting pitchers. They traded Kevin Gausman this year. Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer are about to be free agents as well. They have Cease, Ponce, Trey Yesavage and Jose Soriano, whom they acquired at the trade deadline. Adding Skubal would give them one of the best rotations in baseball and certainly make them contenders again.
At the end of the day, every team would love to have Skubal. However, only a few can afford him. The Blue Jays, the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are some of the biggest spenders in the league, and all of them figure to be in the mix.