Toronto is positioned to buy at the trade deadline if standings remain near .500 or better, aiming to improve a win-now roster. Detroit is in a more uncertain situation with a 20-32 record and could become a seller. Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner, is recovering from elbow surgery but is making strong progress and has reached his bullpen velocity goal. Skubal is a transformative playoff-capable pitcher and an impending free agent seeking a record-setting contract. If Detroit sells him, the acquisition price would be extremely high, creating an arms race. Toronto would likely be better with him, but depleting an already thin farm system for a rental would be a mistake.
"Skubal is in the midst of one of the most dominant stretches by a pitcher in recent memory, akin to the primes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. He's also proven he can pitch in the playoffs over the last few years with a 2.04 ERA across six starts. He would unquestionably make the Blue Jays better."
Read at Jays Journal
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