The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history. Although they did not walk away from the 2025 World Series by hoisting the championship, they came one run shy of making that a reality. That should leave Blue Jays fans optimistic for the future, especially the 2026 season.
Now, after the owner and GM spoke to the media for the first time since the heartbreaking end of the postseason, speculation has begun swirling. GM Ross Atkins will look into adding to the team’s pitching. Some of his comments suggest that he may be considering the likes of Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, and even Tarik Skubal.
Blue Jays’ GM Looking at Starting Pitchers
After speaking with the media on Thursday, November 6, it’s clear that Atkins will look to build the starting rotation by whatever means make the most sense.
“We have been working on that for some time, and we’ll continue to do it,” Atkins said to the media on November 6, 2025. “We do feel good about the free-agent market in the starting pitching area, relative to most years. It’s a little bit better, seemingly.”
“We’ll get to work on the trade front, as well, (and) have started that somewhat.”
There are notable free agent starting pitchers in Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, and Michael King. But his comment about looking at trades has immediately raised eyebrows. With the likes of Peralta, Gore, and Skubal on the market as trade bait, could the Blue Jays trade for one of those aces?
Tarik Skubal at the Center of Trade Speculation
Several MLB analysts and insiders predict that Skubal will be traded. For starters, MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi has one bold prediction for the season involving Skubal.
“I hate this because my favorite pitcher is Tarik Skubal, but he’s gone, he’s going to the Mets,” she said in a clip from November 5th. “Can I tell you why? Last we heard, he wants $400 million. And we heard that the (Detroit) Tigers came in under Crocchet…it’s too far, you’re too far. They’re just going to let him walk? Wouldn’t they (want to) get something for him? It just makes sense.”
With such a significant divide between what his current team is offering him and the contract extension that he’s looking for, a trade makes sense. If they let Skubal walk, the Detroit Tigers don’t get anything.
However, if they know they are going to lose him after this season anyway, then by trading him now, they can recoup some assets to then package together for upgrades elsewhere in the lineup. The Tigers could then be more active in the free agency market to bring on board another starting pitcher or two.
Skubal put together an awe-inspiring season in 2025. The Cy Young winner ended the season with 13 wins, 195 1/3 innings pitched, 241 strikeouts, a 2.21 ERA, and a 0.89 WHIP.
Other Trade Options For the Blue Jays?
As mentioned above, Peralta and Gore are two other pitchers that Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes could be dealt this offseason.
The Milwaukee Brewers picked up Peralta’s $8 million option, but could still trade the right-handed ace, according to Bowden.
Bowden also suggests that, given Paul Toboni’s current position at the top of the Washington Nationals organization, “it’s only a matter of time before he starts shopping Gore.”
With Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber the only locks for the starting rotation, it makes sense for the Blue Jays GM to do the best he can to secure the best pitchers available to make another run for the World Series.
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