Blue Jays reportedly attempting to outbid Dodgers, Padres for $32M Cy Young winner at deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays were just a win away from winning the World Series last October. Now, they find themselves in a clear World Series hangover, sitting under .500 as June approaches.

The injury bug has been anything but kind to Toronto. Over the weekend, both Dylan Cease and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. suffered injuries.

“First it was Dylan Cease, who left the game with mild left hamstring discomfort in the top of the fifth. Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took a fastball off the inside of his right elbow and left immediately. The early diagnosis for Guerrero is a right elbow contusion and initial X-rays have come back negative for a fracture,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson wrote.

Injuries have piled up across the pitching staff, both in the rotation and the bullpen. Recently, the bullpen has taken the brunt of the damage.

“Things don't appear to be getting any easier for an over-taxed Toronto Blue Jays bullpen. The team announced on Tuesday that veteran left-hander Joe Mantiply was being placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 18, with left knee inflammation. This comes two days after Tommy Nance hit the IL with right forearm discomfort, the same day that Eric Lauer was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers,” SI’s Ben Fisher wrote.

It appears the Blue Jays believe that acquiring a true frontline starter could help stabilize the season. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale recently reported that Toronto is expected to pursue Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline.

“Now that it’s becoming inevitable that the free-falling Detroit Tigers may have no choice but to trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the deadline, rival executives believe the bidding will come down to four finalists that not only can afford the remainder of his $32 million contract, but will also be willing to give up prized prospects: The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres,” Nightengale wrote.

Toronto clearly needs a player capable of changing the direction of its season, and Skubal fits that description. However, acquiring him would require a significant prospect package.

Competing with big-market teams at the deadline is never easy, but the Blue Jays are motivated to return to the World Series. A healthy pitching staff anchored by Skubal would be an ideal scenario heading into October.

More MLB news:

• Mets' Carlos Mendoza officially presses the panic button after blowout loss to the Reds

• Dodgers-Orioles trade pitch sends $28M former Reliever of the Year to LA to pair with Edwin Diaz

• Braves-Giants trade pitch sends $115M Cy Young arm to Atlanta to join Chris Sale, Spencer Strider

• Blue Jays predicted to sign $13M flamethrower, World Series champion to save injured pitching staff