Padres Reportedly Express Interest in Tarik Skubal as Free-Agent Pursuit Heats Up

The San Diego Padres could be preparing to make one of the biggest moves of the MLB offseason.

San Diego has reportedly expressed interest in two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, potentially positioning the club to pursue the most coveted starting pitcher on the free-agent market.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the Padres have already expressed interest in the 29-year-old left-hander under their new ownership group.

The development follows Morosi's earlier report that San Diego is among baseball's most active teams pursuing free-agent starting pitchers.

Unlike that initial report, the latest development identifies a specific target, and it's arguably the biggest name available.

Skubal spent the final portion of the 2026 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being traded by the Detroit Tigers.

He finished the regular season with a 2.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 186 strikeouts across 26 starts between the two clubs.

Signing him would not only transform San Diego's rotation but potentially weaken its biggest National League West rival.

However, the financial obstacles would be considerable.

Skubal is expected to command a record-setting contract for a pitcher, with some projections exceeding $400 million.

The Padres already have significant long-term commitments to Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts, raising questions about their ability to compete financially with baseball's wealthiest franchises.

Nevertheless, San Diego's new ownership group, led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, has pledged to pursue the franchise's first World Series championship while maintaining financial discipline.

The possibility of pursuing Skubal was raised in previous speculation about the Padres' offseason spending, but Morosi's report represents a more concrete indication of interest.

The Padres certainly have a pressing need for starting pitching.

Michael King opted out of his remaining contract, while San Diego declined Nick Pivetta's club option, leaving significant holes in the rotation.

Those departures followed a season in which the Padres won 91 games and reached the postseason.

Joe Musgrove returned from Tommy John surgery during the postseason, although his role in 2027 remains uncertain, while Yu Darvish's future is also unclear.

San Diego's earlier offseason decisions involving King highlighted the challenges facing president of baseball operations A.J. Preller.

Skubal would provide an immediate answer at the top of the rotation, although the Padres would face stiff competition for his services.

The New York Mets and Dodgers are among the other clubs linked to the star left-hander.

For now, reported interest does not mean a contract offer is imminent.

But San Diego's willingness to explore such an expensive acquisition suggests the Padres intend to remain aggressive in their pursuit of a championship.