Jays and Dodgers Weigh Short-term Skubal Pursuit

WHO:

MLB.com - Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said prospect Connor Prielipp will be handled more like a traditional starter, though the team expects to continue giving him extra rest.

MLB.com - Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Seattle has received inquiries about its starting pitchers and is open to moving one if a trade could provide access to a hitter the club otherwise could not acquire.

MLB.com - Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said the team has engaged in “extremely long-term negotiations for pitchers” and would do so again, evaluating each pitcher individually.

MLB.com - The Mets’ potential 2027 pitching group includes Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, Jonah Tong, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill; prospect Jonathan Santucci leads a group of near-ready pitchers.

MLB.com - Stearns said owner Steve Cohen would support baseball operations and its needs this offseason.

MLB.com - Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said the team remains genuinely interested in reuniting with catcher Ryan Jeffers and has had initial discussions with his representatives.

MLB.com - Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the team plans to add both offense and starting pitching.

MLB.com - The Toronto Blue Jays are pursuing free-agent left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal; their reported upcoming meeting also includes the Mets, Dodgers, Padres and potentially other clubs.

MLB.com - Jon Heyman reported that the Blue Jays would meet with Skubal. The article says Scott Boras represents Skubal.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays have committed $500 million to an extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and signed Boras client Dylan Cease to a $210 million contract.

MLB Trade Rumors - Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that the Dodgers’ interest in Skubal depends on his willingness to consider a short-term contract; Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Skubal has no interest in one.

Sportskeeda - The article describes Skubal as the offseason’s top free agent and says MLB’s biggest franchises have shown interest.

WHAT:

MLB.com - Dylan Cease was named to the All-MLB First Team after recording a 2.40 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 169 innings for Toronto; his 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings set a Blue Jays record for qualified pitchers.

MLB.com - Louis Varland was named to the All-MLB First Team after posting a 1.27 ERA, 97 strikeouts and 35 saves in 78 innings. He took over as Toronto’s closer in late April.

MLB.com - Guardians prospect Parker Messick received seven second-place votes in the 2026 AL Cy Young Award voting.

MLB.com - Cleveland’s Cade Smith earned his first All-MLB Team selection, making the Second Team after tying Bryan Baker for the MLB lead with 41 saves; Smith also had a 1.95 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 74 innings.

MLB.com - Cleveland’s Foster Griffin posted a 3.73 ERA in 41 innings across seven regular-season starts with the Guardians and a 3.48 ERA in 10⅓ innings over three postseason appearances.

MLB.com - Mets GM David Stearns said, “We’re not looking to add” a second baseman. He cited Brett Baty’s 25 games at the position and the possibility of pairing him with Marcus Semien.

MLB.com - Mets prospect Jefferson Rojas could compete for a major-league job next spring; prospects Mitch Voit and Émilien Pitre could also help in the first half of 2027.

MLB.com - Toronto’s Cody Ponce missed the 2026 season after knee surgery; Atkins said Ponce and Spencer Miles could potentially combine for one rotation spot in 2027.

MLB.com - Toronto’s 2026 record was 79-83.

MLB.com - Dipoto said Seattle views its starting-pitcher group as eight deep: Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, Emerson Hancock, Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan and Logan Evans.

MLB.com - Seattle traded Luis Castillo to the White Sox at the 2026 Trade Deadline; Castillo’s departure opened a rotation spot for prospect Kade Anderson, who debuted three weeks later.

MLB.com - Dipoto identified improving defense and offense and adding leverage relief help as Seattle’s offseason targets.

MLB.com - MLB.com reported the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract and said a hamstring issue cost him two starts in 2026 before a shoulder issue ended his season in late September.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays’ Louis Varland recorded a 1.27 ERA, 97 strikeouts and 35 saves in 78 innings; he took over as closer in late April.

MLB.com - The Dodgers’ reported interest in Tarik Skubal depends on whether he would accept a short-term contract; ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Skubal is not interested in one.

MLB.com - The Dodgers’ past short-term offer to Kyle Tucker included a $240 million guarantee over four years, with opt-outs after the second and third years.

MLB.com - MLB.com projected Skubal could receive a nine-year, $425 million contract.

MLB.com - The Padres’ new owners are José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones; the team needs rotation help after most of its starters became free agents.

MLB.com - The Red Sox and White Sox are reportedly not involved in the Skubal pursuit.

MLB.com - The Guardians’ rotation options include Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, Daniel Espino, Foster Griffin, Parker Messick and Gavin Williams. Cleveland could consider Griffin for a reunion after acquiring him on Aug. 3; he recorded a 3.06 ERA in 129 1/3 innings over 22 starts with Washington.

MLB.com - Cade Smith tied Bryan Baker for the MLB lead with 41 saves in 2026, posting a 1.95 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 74 innings; he recorded 107 strikeouts.

MLB.com - Toronto’s Dylan Cease and Louis Varland were named to the All-MLB First Team. Cease posted a 2.40 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 169 innings; Varland recorded a 1.27 ERA, 97 strikeouts and 35 saves in 78 innings.

MLB.com - Mets second basemen produced a .629 OPS in 2026, 26th in MLB. Marcus Semien hit .620 OPS, .280 on-base percentage and .340 slugging; his contract guarantees two more seasons and $46 million.

MLB.com - The Mets’ second-base prospects include Jefferson Rojas, ranked No. 68 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, plus Mitch Voit and Émilien Pitre. Rojas could compete for a major-league job next spring.

MLB.com - Tarik Skubal has a 50-20 record, 2.47 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over the past four seasons with the Tigers and Dodgers; his 169 league-adjusted figure led MLB among pitchers with at least 300 innings over that span.

MLB.com - Skubal has undergone multiple elbow surgeries since 2023, has thrown 925 1/3 career innings, and recorded a career-high 195 1/3 innings last season.

MLB.com - The Mets’ alternatives if they do not sign Skubal include free agents Clay Holmes and Michael King, or trades for Drew Rasmussen, Joe Ryan and Reid Detmers.

MLB.com - The Guardians want to add a starting pitcher through either a trade or free agency, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said.

MLB.com - Cleveland was the only MLB team with four pitchers making at least 30 starts in 2026; only eight pitchers started games for the Guardians.

MLB.com - The Guardians’ potential rotation additions include Tyler Mahle, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, Michael Soroka, Matthew Boyd, Kris Bubic, Foster Griffin and David Peterson.

MLB.com - Zoll said Royce Lewis could play second base; he said Lewis’s athleticism leaves the team flexibility to choose the position that best suits it.

MLB.com - Minnesota tied the Yankees for second in the American League with 739 runs in 2026, and no Twins player hit 30 home runs.

MLB.com - Zoll said Byron Buxton was “feeling great, no issues” after right hip surgery; the team hopes he can resume baseball activities after a Dec. 21 follow-up examination.

MLB.com - Trevor Larnach is scheduled for left-wrist arthroscopic surgery; the Twins do not expect it to affect his readiness for Spring Training or the season.

MLB.com - Pablo López is expected to begin throwing off a mound next week, with a bullpen session expected on or about Nov. 20; Zoll said he remains on track to be ready for the start of the 2027 season.

MLB.com - Walker Jenkins is expected to be a “full go” for Spring Training after right-elbow surgery.

MLB.com - Jeff Hoffman is tracking toward Spring Training and should begin mound throwing in mid-January.

MLB.com - Zebby Matthews received a platelet-rich plasma injection for an elbow strain and is expected to begin throwing within one or two weeks.

MLB.com - Cole Sands has had no recovery complications after elbow surgery and is expected to complete a full offseason program without limitations.

MLB.com - Toronto is considering Seiya Suzuki as a potential offensive target; Atkins also cited Japanese players Teruaki Sato and Kaima Taira as players planning to move overseas.

MLB.com - Atkins said the free-agent market appears to be moving somewhat faster than in some years, but “not drastically,” and that the Blue Jays’ early offseason work is about preparation rather than being “aggressive.”

MLB.com - Atkins said Toronto is deciding whether to prepare Spencer Miles for a similar mix of roles or reduce volatility in his assignments; the club may consider Miles and Cody Ponce together for one rotation spot in 2027.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays also plan to address their bullpen.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays had only two pitchers top 100 innings in 2026: Dylan Cease and Kevin Gausman.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays could consider adding a second baseman despite Ernie Clement; Atkins said the mid-tier starting-pitcher market offers options to pair with Cease, Trey Yesavage and José Soriano if Toronto adds a major hitter.

MLB.com - Dylan Cease finished second in 2026 American League Cy Young Award voting, receiving 22 second-place votes; Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler received all 30 first-place votes, and Guardians pitcher Parker Messick received seven second-place votes.

MLB.com - Cease’s 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings set a Blue Jays record for qualified pitchers. His 237 strikeouts ranked fourth in franchise history.

MLB.com - Cease carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning and threw a one-hit shutout in separate July starts.

MLB Trade Rumors - Dodgers owner Mark Walter has been selling assets amid financial and legal turmoil; Katie Woo reported that the club could still offer Skubal a strong average annual value.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays are weighing whether to pursue Skubal despite needs elsewhere; their lineup scored the fewest runs in baseball in 2026.

MLB.com - A traditional Skubal contract could average about $45 million per season, compared with Cease’s $30 million annual salary. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander share the reported pitcher salary record at $43.3 million annually.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Dodgers reportedly prefer short-term free-agent deals and may avoid a lucrative long-term offer to Skubal while collective bargaining negotiations continue.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Dodgers signed Kyle Tucker for $240 million over four years, with opt-outs after the second and third years. MLB Trade Rumors projected Skubal could receive a nine-year, $425 million deal.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Mets signed Juan Soto to a 15-year deal. The article says the Padres need rotation help, while the Mets’ rotation also needs help.

MLB.com - Boras praised the Blue Jays’ facilities, player care and investment in amenities and technology, saying Toronto should be “clearly one of the top five standards in Major League Baseball.”

WHERE:

MLB.com - Mets officials plan to meet with Skubal and his representatives in Los Angeles.

MLB.com - Toronto hopes to strengthen its relationship with Japan’s baseball market, building on the success of Yusei Kikuchi and Kazuma Okamoto.

MLB.com - The GM Meetings are being held in Las Vegas; the Blue Jays are based in Toronto.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Padres play in San Diego; the article says Skubal could meet with clubs in the United States.

WHEN:

MLB Trade Rumors - The Mets reportedly planned to meet with Skubal next week, and the Dodgers expected to meet with him soon.

MLB Trade Rumors - Skubal reportedly hopes to sign before the lockout begins on December 2.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Dodgers’ two free-agent contracts longer than six years in the preceding decade were Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year deal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year deal.

MLB.com - The article says Cease’s $210 million Blue Jays contract was signed last December.

WHY:

MLB.com - Mets officials said they expect Semien to improve in 2027, and Stearns described him as “an extremely motivated player” who “works as hard as anyone.” Semien’s contract guarantees two more seasons and $46 million.

MLB.com - Dipoto said Seattle’s preference is to retain its pitchers, but the club must consider a trade if it can obtain a desired hitter; he cited the team’s pitching surplus and needs for bats and bullpen help.

MLB.com - The Dodgers’ reported preference to avoid long-term deals is tied to uncertainty about baseball’s economic future and collective bargaining negotiations; owner Mark Walter has also been selling assets amid financial and legal turmoil.

MLB.com - Stearns said the Mets will add pitching despite having young pitchers and returning veterans, but did not specify how far the team would pursue Skubal.

MLB.com - The Guardians seek more rotation options because they cannot rely on their pitchers repeating their exceptional durability from 2026.

MLB.com - Zoll said Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell becoming free agents represent a potential loss to Minnesota’s offense; the Twins want to supplement the lineup with more power.

MLB.com - The Blue Jays’ uncertainty about whether to prioritize hitters or pitchers stems partly from the limited appeal of the mid-tier hitting market and the range of available second-tier starters.

MLB.com - Atkins said uncertainty surrounding the next collective bargaining agreement could accelerate offseason transactions; he cited the Blue Jays’ signing of Kevin Gausman on Dec. 1, 2021, during the prior CBA-related rush.

MLB.com - The article says a major investment in pitching could push Toronto to seek lineup upgrades through trades, while spending on hitters could leave room for mid-tier pitching.

MLB Trade Rumors - The article reports that the Padres’ ownership change could enable more aggressive spending, while the club needs rotation help because nearly all its starters became free agents.

MLB.com - A major Skubal contract could leave Toronto with less money to improve its offense; the article says Toronto could instead pursue hitters and mid-tier pitching.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Dodgers reportedly favor shorter contracts amid uncertainty about baseball’s economic future and the next collective bargaining agreement.

MLB Trade Rumors - A long-term offer from another club could give it an advantage if the Dodgers stick to short-term offers.

HOW:

MLB.com - Dylan Cease added a changeup during the 2026 season; MLB.com said it helped unlock a higher ceiling.

MLB.com - Dipoto said Seattle would pursue its top targets in November if possible and use January or February as a fallback window.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Dodgers have used high average annual values on shorter contracts to limit commitment length; the article describes their approach as “hanging around the backboard.”

MLB Trade Rumors - The Mets, Dodgers, Padres and three unidentified teams were reported to be meeting with Skubal; the Blue Jays were also reported to be meeting with him.

The Blue Jays are pursuing top free-agent pitcher Tarik Skubal, while planning to add offense. Toronto stars Dylan Cease and Louis Varland earned All-MLB First Team honors. Seattle may trade a starting pitcher for a hitter, while Cleveland seeks rotation help.