Tarik Skubal is back in John Schneider's orbit, and this time the Blue Jays may have a real deadline opening.
That is the big takeaway from Sporting News, which pointed to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel naming Toronto as 1 of the 6 best fits for Skubal.
That matters because the Blue Jays do not usually get linked this seriously to the very top of the market. They get mentioned around stars. They do not often feel this close to the center of the conversation.
Sporting News also made the surprise clear. The other clubs named were the Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, Brewers, and Rays, which makes Toronto stand out because it has not played to that tier so far this season.
Still, the article pushed one important point: the Blue Jays are only 1 year removed from a trip to Game 7 of the World Series, so the front office still has reason to think big instead of acting like this roster needs a step back.
And that is where Skubal changes the tone. He is not some middle-rotation rental. He is the kind of ace who can move a contender from interesting to dangerous in October.
Passan and McDaniel's view is what really lifts the story. Sporting News wrote that the ESPN pair sees an 85 percent chance Skubal gets traded, which is about as strong a market signal as Toronto could ask for right now.
Toronto finally has a reason to watch this closely
That does not mean the Blue Jays are about to steal him tomorrow. Sporting News also noted Detroit may wait, get Skubal healthy, and see whether the Tigers can make one last push before fully committing to a deal.
There is also the cost. The same report made it plain that whoever lands Skubal will pay an enormous price, which is exactly why Toronto probably only pushes all the way in if the club gets hot over the next month.
That is the balancing act for Ross Atkins and Schneider. They need enough surge in the standings to justify emptying real prospect value, but they also need to be ready if the Tigers finally open the door. This is an inference based on Sporting News saying Toronto likely goes all in only if it heats up.
The encouraging part for Toronto is simpler than that. You do not get mentioned by Passan and McDaniel without some kind of buzz behind the scenes, and Sporting News said as much. This is an inference based on the article's line that there “must be some buzz” or ESPN would not have included Toronto.
So even if the Blue Jays are not the favorite yet, this is still a meaningful update. Tarik Skubal is not just a fantasy fit for Toronto anymore. He is now a name attached to the Blue Jays strongly enough that fans have a real reason to watch the deadline board.
Should the Blue Jays go all in for Tarik Skubal if they heat up before the deadline?
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Blue Jays are going all in at the trade deadline and the names they're targeting will surprise a lot of fans
