A looming bidding war between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets threatens to dominate the offseason as Tarik Skubal prepares for his massive payday.
Tarik Skubal is still settling into life with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where the immediate objective is helping the team win another World Series.
Still, his impending free agency is already looming in the background.
Skubal is scheduled to reach the open market after the season and is expected to command a contract worth more than $300 million.
Who could sign Skubal?
Plenty of teams would undoubtedly have interest in the left-hander, but only a small group may possess the financial resources necessary to seriously pursue him.
According to Bob Nightengale from USA TODAY, that group could ultimately consist of only two teams: the Dodgers and New York Mets.
Nightengale reported that although Skubal has publicly discussed the possibility of eventually returning to Detroit, the reality is that Los Angeles and New York are expected to be the only teams prepared to make serious offers.
“Dodgers two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is saying all of the right things about his upcoming free agency, even revealing his interest about a potential return to Detroit,” Nightengale wrote.
“The cold-hearted truth is that there will be only two teams who will make serious bids for his services: The Dodgers and New York Mets. That’s it.”
The Mets remain an obvious threat because owner Steve Cohen has consistently demonstrated a willingness to spend aggressively.
New York will fail to reach the postseason again this season, potentially giving Cohen even more motivation to make another major offseason addition.
And no available player would generate more attention than Skubal.
Why Skubal would stay with Dodgers
The Dodgers, however, may hold one important advantage beyond money.
Skubal is already inside their organization.
His agent, Scott Boras, told the California Post after the trade that the arrangement gives both Skubal and the Dodgers an opportunity to become familiar with one another. And better understand what a long-term future together might look like.
That familiarity could matter once negotiations begin.
“It’s great for both the Dodgers and for Tarik that they both get to know one another quite well and determine more about what the future may hold for them,” Boras said.
Skubal has also spoken about potentially returning to the Detroit Tigers, and he is looking forward to facing his former team later this month in Detroit.
However, unless the Tigers are prepared to match the financial commitment required to sign him, a reunion appears unlikely.
Before the trade, Skubal had also been rumored to have interest in signing with Los Angeles once he reached free agency.
So far, he appears comfortable with the Dodgers despite having spent only a limited amount of time with the organization.
The left-hander has made three starts for Los Angeles, posting a 3.18 ERA across 17 innings.
Skubal’s mindset
Skubal has already acknowledged that he expects more from himself during the stretch run.
That mentality is one of the qualities that makes him such an appealing long-term investment.
He holds himself to an elite standard and is not satisfied merely by producing respectable results. His competitiveness, preparation and ability to dominate with both power and command have helped make him one of MLB's premier starters.
His presence also gives the Dodgers another ace capable of handling postseason pressure.
For now, Skubal's focus remains on finishing the regular season strongly and helping Los Angeles pursue another World Series.
Once the season ends, his free agency could quickly become one of MLB's biggest stories.
