The Chicago Cubs don’t look like they’re going to be part of the Tarik Skubal chase.
That’s the latest read from Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, who reported Monday that the Cubs “appear unlikely to enter the bidding war” for the free agent left-hander. The timing matters, too, with the MLB General Managers’ meetings set to begin this week and the market for Skubal starting to come into focus.
It’s not hard to see why Chicago would be viewed as a stretch. The Cubs have never handed out a contract worth more than $184 million, and their biggest deal for a pitcher came in 2015, when they gave Jon Lester $155 million. Skubal, meanwhile, is projected to land the largest contract ever for a pitcher, with a deal expected to land somewhere in nine-figure territory and likely begin with a 3, 4 or 5 rather than a 1 or 2.
For the Dodgers, that leaves the path to Skubal looking a little cleaner. They already paid a steep price to get him, sending prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith to the Detroit Tigers in August for the final months of the 2026 season.
Skubal delivered right away. In 10 regular-season starts after the trade, he went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA.
In the postseason, he made two Game 1 starts for Los Angeles, one against the Atlanta Braves and one against the Milwaukee Brewers. He won the first, lost the second and never got the chance for a third after the Brewers swept the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Across his time with the Dodgers and Tigers, Skubal is 66-44 with a 3.02 ERA and 138 ERA+ in 163 regular-season games. He’s been even sharper in the postseason, going 3-2 with a 2.13 ERA in eight starts from 2024-26.
Now that he’s a free agent for the first time, the list of realistic suitors may be short. With the Cubs apparently out, the New York Mets stand as the Dodgers’ most likely competition for Skubal while MLB’s current labor agreement remains in place. If Skubal signs before that agreement expires on Dec. 1, it could come down to a two-team battle.
If the league eventually moves into a world with a hard salary cap and floor, more teams could enter the picture. MLB recently proposed a $180.2 million minimum payroll starting in 2028. But for now, the market seems narrow, and the Dodgers may have one fewer obstacle in front of them.
In Other News...
Cubs Could Revisit A Familiar Rotation Move This Winter
Jed Hoyers winter pitching plan appears to be taking shape, and it does not sound like the Cubs are preparing to chase the biggest name on the market. Instead, Chicago is expected to look for starting pitchers who come at a more manageable price, with an eye toward arms that either miss bats or keep the ball on the ground. It is the kind of practical approach that fits the way the front office has operated, especially with the rotation still needing stability heading into next season.
One familiar option could be Shota Imanaga, who spent his entire MLB career with the Cubs and accepted a qualifying offer for 2026. The left-hander turned in a solid 2025 season, but the Cubs did not use him in their playoff games, and there are still some concerns about his home run issues. Even so, he remains a possible fit if the price is right, though Chicago seems wary of going too far to bring him back. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Brown News Just Made The Cubs Rotation Problem Even Worse
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Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said the team opted for surgery with the goal of helping Brown recover completely, and the expectation is that he should be ready to pitch early in the 2027 season. For a rotation that already has plenty to sort through, losing any time from a pitcher the Cubs were hoping to count on only adds to the uncertainty heading into the year. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Trade Debate Starts With One Tempting Move Hoyer Should Avoid
The Cubs are headed into the GM Meetings with the same familiar shopping list: help for the starting rotation and another bat in the outfield. Any serious trade discussion around Chicago has to start with those needs, and the early speculation is already circling a few big names that would force Jed Hoyer to weigh upside against cost. Nathan Eovaldi, CJ Abrams and Spencer Strider each represent a different kind of swing, with varying levels of fit and risk for a club trying to stay competitive without emptying the cupboard.
Of the ideas being kicked around, the one tied to Strider is the kind of temptation that can quickly become a trap if the price climbs too high. Chicago can use impact, but it also has to be careful not to chase the loudest name simply because the rotation needs a jolt. The Cubs will have options to explore in the coming days, and the real challenge is figuring out which path actually improves the club without creating a bigger problem somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]