Tarik Skubal is the unquestioned top player available in free agency, with a legitimate opportunity to establish new contract records for a pitcher.

His market could dictate the pace of the entire offseason.

Teams interested in other starting pitchers may wait for Skubal to sign before committing their money elsewhere, while his eventual contract could also influence negotiations involving several of the leading free agents.

The Los Angeles Dodgers would have a significant opening to address in their rotation should they fail to re-sign Skubal.

Right-hander Michael King represents a familiar alternative who could join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki in the starting rotation.

King was easily the San Diego Padres’ ace last season, going 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 185 innings over 32 starts.

The right-hander raised his performance during the postseason. King allowed only one run on five hits in 14 innings over three appearances (two starts), recording an 0.64 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and one save.

That combination of effectiveness and availability would make King an appealing fit for Los Angeles.

He will turn 32 in May, meaning this offseason could represent his final opportunity to secure a long-term contract worth nine figures.

King is arguably the second-best starting pitcher available behind Skubal and should receive the substantial agreement he is seeking.

Los Angeles would not be acquiring King to reproduce everything Skubal provides. Instead, the Dodgers would be adding another established starter capable of handling a significant workload and taking the ball in important games.

His presence could help distribute innings throughout a rotation filled with accomplished pitchers who have also dealt with availability concerns.

King’s experience in different assignments would offer the Dodgers additional flexibility.

He has demonstrated that he can work as a traditional starter, appear in another capacity during the postseason and remain effective when the circumstances surrounding his role change.

That adaptability becomes particularly useful during October, when teams often abandon regular-season pitching patterns.

His postseason performance also showed that the pressure surrounding meaningful games does not prevent him from executing. Los Angeles needs pitchers who can handle the expectations attached to a roster built to contend for the World Series every year.

King would also provide an alternative that prevents the Dodgers from treating Skubal as their only acceptable outcome.

Skubal deserves to command an enormous contract, but Los Angeles must remain prepared to redirect its resources should another team present an offer it is unwilling to match.

Signing King would still require a considerable investment. However, his durability, adaptability and ability to perform in the postseason would make him a sensible replacement option rather than merely a consolation prize.