Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Tarik Skubal is likely to sign in November, before the collective bargaining agreement runs out in December (h/t CBS Sports).
He added that there is no deal imminent, but the market is moving for the 30-year-old southpaw.
Skubal is coming off another strong year that saw him go 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA, 186 strikeouts, and a 0.964 WHIP with the Tigers and Dodgers.
His numbers dipped slightly from his stellar back-to-back Cy Young Award-winning seasons, but there is little denying that he is still elite on the mound, enough so that he is likely to get a record deal when he puts pen to paper.
The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, said at the end of the team’s season, “We have a tremendous amount of respect for him on and off the field, and for us, he’s put himself in this position to go out and be a free agent. And for us, it’s to continue to talk to Scott [Boras, his agent].”
Clearly, the team would love to have him back on a long-term deal, as they look to build on their championship dynasty, which they fell short of adding to in 2026.
Heyman noted in his report that the New York Mets are interested in acquiring Skubal but added that the team’s bidding for Juan Soto two years ago may impact how much they are willing to bid.
There will be enormous offers sent Skubal’s way, and it will ultimately come down to fit and preference. The Dodgers are still a win-now team, with the pieces in place to return to the Fall Classic next year and compete for a third title in four years.
The Mets have flashed some seriously talented young stars in Nolan McLean, AJ Ewing, and Carson Benge. Whether he wants to play for the here and now, or future success could be the difference.
Prediction: Skubal signs with New York or Los Angeles, with few other teams positioned to pay out what they will
