The Blue Jays and Dodgers have spent enough time circling the same stars that another showdown almost feels inevitable. They went head-to-head for Shohei Ohtani, with Ohtani ending up in Los Angeles.
Toronto then reached the World Series, pushed the Dodgers to the brink and still walked away with a Game 7 loss after a homer sent the game to extras. Over the offseason, the two clubs were back in the mix for Kyle Tucker before he chose the Dodgers.
Now there’s another name that could put them on a collision course: Tarik Skubal.
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa listed both Toronto and Los Angeles as early possible destinations for the Cy Young-winning ace when he hits free agency in the 2026-2027 window.
"Skubal is the clear-cut, inarguable No. 1 free agent," Axisa writes. "Super early possible landing spots: Blue Jays, Dodgers."
For Toronto, the fit is easy to see. The Blue Jays have shown they’re willing to spend, and a pitcher of Skubal’s caliber is exactly the kind of player that justifies a massive swing. The price tag will be enormous - likely north of $300 million overall and possibly beyond $400 million - but that hasn’t been framed as a deterrent.
The appeal goes beyond just adding another arm. Pairing Skubal with Dylan Cease would give the Blue Jays the kind of top-end one-two punch teams dream about in October. Skubal has posted a 2.84 ERA in what’s been described as a down year by his standards, while Cease is a strong Cy Young candidate in the AL this season.
With Trey Yesavage and Jose Soriano also in the mix, Toronto could be looking at an elite rotation if it can land Skubal.
Of course, the Dodgers figure to make that pursuit complicated. Toronto would likely have to outbid them, and that’s never a simple task. But the Blue Jays have been in this position before, battling Los Angeles for marquee talent, and if they want Skubal badly enough, they may have another chance to win one of these wars.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Massive Tarik Skubal Decision They Can't Ignore
Tarik Skubal is already forcing the Dodgers to think beyond the stretch run, because his arrival at the deadline brought instant impact and an even bigger question about what comes next. ESPNs Jeff Passan has projected that a pitcher his age could approach a free-agent deal worth nearly $500 million, a figure that would reset expectations for anyone on the mound and put the Dodgers in a familiar but uncomfortable position: decide whether elite production is worth historic money.
For a team that has never shied from big swings, this is still a different kind of gamble. Committing that kind of contract to a pitcher in his 30s would carry obvious risk, especially for a club that has to keep one eye on its long-term financial flexibility, but letting a front-line arm walk after paying the deadline price would sting in its own way. The Dodgers do not have to answer it today, but the closer Skubal gets to free agency, the harder it gets to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Have A Shohei Ohtani Problem Fans Wont Ignore
Shohei Ohtanis latest stretch with the Dodgers has turned into more than a routine injury update. After being benched for most of the clubs recent games and struggling at the plate, the two-way star was placed on the 15-day injured list as the team tries to sort through knee and biceps issues that have clearly affected his availability and performance.
For the Dodgers, the bigger concern may be how this reached the point it did. Dave Roberts and front office officials have acknowledged there were communication challenges between Ohtani and the team about his health, and the decision-making around when he should play has not been simple. In a season where every move around Ohtani draws attention, the unanswered question now is how smoothly the club can manage him going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Are Finally Turning To A Top Prospect For Answers
The Dodgers are giving Josue de Paula a fast track to the majors, promoting the outfielder from Double-A ahead of their series against the Marlins. It is the kind of move that says plenty about where a team stands in the season, and about how much confidence it has in a young player who has forced the issue with strong offensive production in the minors this year.
De Paula arrives with the reputation of a highly ranked prospect and the kind of upside the Dodgers have long been willing to bet on. He is expected to fit into the outfield mix and could also see time at designated hitter, giving Los Angeles another look at a bat it believes may be ready for a bigger stage. The only real question now is how quickly the transition comes together once he gets his first extended run. [Read more 🡒]