Could the Los Angeles Dodgers' fan base see Tarik Skubal in Dodger blue at some point? The Dodgers have money and players to use at their whim.

Yet even looking at picking up Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal would have come with a price. That price would have been pretty steep.

There were some talks about Skubal at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. How serious those talks were remains to be seen. Still, the idea of adding Skubal to an already loaded starting rotation must make Dodgers fans drool.

Longtime baseball reporter Bob Nightengale of USA Today had some thoughts in his roundup of news and views from the few days MLB front office personnel spent together.

"They surprised teams by engaging in serious talks, and were intrigued by the Dodgers’ potential package of prospects, triggering trade rumors," Nightengale wrote for USA Today.

"Prediction: Skubal will stay put," according to Nightengale. "There’s simply no team that will strip their farm system for one year of Skubal knowing that he could be parting after one year for the riches of free agency, where he’s expected to receive at least $400 million."

Skubal is an American League Cy Young Award winner. He defies the odds when he's on the mound, blowing away hitters at a rapid pace. Skubal has become a magician on the mound, making pitches that leave hitters flailing away.

What if Skubal eventually joins the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell in the Dodgers' rotation? That would be another full crowd making its way to Dodger Stadium every time Skubal gets the ball.

Here's what might be the stopping point (at least for now) from the Dodgers side. Skubal is going to be a free agent after the 2026 MLB season. He's going to look for a contract in that $400 million range. But Detroit doesn't want Skubal to walk without getting something back in return.

Do the Dodgers really have that much money to spend on him? They have deep pockets, but one must presume they'd like to avoid that type of contract.

If Los Angeles could work a deal with Detroit and trade some of their assets, then it might make a lot of sense.

Based on Nightengale's reporting, it appears that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes did kick the tires on a Skubal acquisition.

At this time, the Dodgers are going to simply get ready for Spring Training, which is now less than 70 days away. Yes, Dodgers fans, the team will head to Florida soon and get ready for Grapefruit League play.

It's hard to believe that another MLB season is just around the corner. But Dodgers fans have been busy, still reveling in another World Series championship.

Don't be surprised if the Dodgers are tied to getting Skubal down the road. There's still time for some back-channel discussions to take place between Los Angeles and Detroit. Not every single conversation gets revealed in the media, you know.

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