Tarik Skubal is unquestionably the leading player available in free agency and has a legitimate opportunity to establish new contract records for a pitcher.

His market could dictate the pace of the entire offseason.

Teams pursuing other starting pitchers may postpone their decisions until Skubal signs. The value of his eventual contract could also affect negotiations involving several other prominent free agents.

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

Nick Pivetta represents an intriguing alternative with considerable upside. The right-hander could join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki in the starting rotation.

Injuries prevented Pivetta from pitching for much of the 2026 season. He made only eight starts for the San Diego Padres, but he was outstanding whenever he took the mound.

Pivetta recorded a 2.86 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 34.2 innings during the regular season. He added a 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 7.2 innings over two postseason starts.

That performance remained consistent with what Pivetta accomplished in 2025. He finished that season with a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 181.2 innings over 31 starts.

After missing substantial time in 2026, Pivetta must rebuild his market value before pursuing an expensive long-term contract.

Los Angeles would provide an environment where he could restore that value while competing for a World Series without being required to serve as the ace of the pitching staff.

Pivetta would enter a rotation surrounded by established pitchers, reducing the pressure for him to carry the entire group.

The Dodgers could manage his workload carefully and give him sufficient recovery time between starts while still expecting meaningful contributions.

Pivetta’s aggressive approach would also fit a team that values pitchers capable of attacking hitters and missing bats. Pivetta can control an at-bat when he establishes his pitches early, works ahead and prevents hitters from waiting comfortably for one location.

The greatest concern would be his availability. Los Angeles would need confidence that his physical issues are behind him before depending on him for an important rotation role.

A shorter agreement would limit the risk while giving Pivetta an opportunity to demonstrate that he can remain healthy throughout a complete season.

Pivetta would not replace everything Skubal provides. Skubal is positioned to receive a record-setting contract because he offers the impact of a true ace.

However, the Dodgers already possess several pitchers capable of leading a rotation. They would need Pivetta to provide dependable starts, maintain his effectiveness and remain available.

A successful 2027 season in Los Angeles could place Pivetta in a stronger position to secure the lucrative long-term agreement he will seek. It could also give the Dodgers another experienced starter capable of helping them return to the World Series.