Tarik Skubal is sitting at the top of this offseason’s market, and the bidding war figures to start the moment the World Series ends. The Dodgers and Mets are expected to be in the mix, with the Cubs, Blue Jays, and Phillies also looming as possible suitors.
What makes the Dodgers worth watching is the wrinkle raised by Los Angeles insider Katie Woo of The Athletic. During an appearance on 97.1 The Fan, Woo said, "The only way I see the Dodgers being fierce competitors for Tarik Skubal, is if Skubal is willing to take a deal similar to the structure and concept of Kyle Tucker."
That matters because Tucker accepted a four-year, $240 million deal with LA last offseason, even with longer-term options elsewhere. The Dodgers are also trying to get younger, and Skubal just turned 29, which makes the length of the contract a real part of the conversation.
"The only way I see the Dodgers being fierce competitors for Tarik Skubal, is if Skubal is willing to take a deal similar to the structure and concept of Kyle Tucker."
The Athletic's @katiejwoo joins @dmac_la and @sportsreiter to analyze the #Dodgers ' offseason plans. pic.twitter.com/wxPGzMYLuf
- 97.1 The Fan (@TheFanLA) October 28, 2026
That opens the door to a question Tigers fans will notice immediately: if Skubal is willing to consider a shorter deal, could Detroit get back into the chase?
Last year, the Tigers handed Framber Valdez the biggest AAV ever for a left-handed pitcher, and Skubal is expected to blow past that number no matter how the contract is structured. Even so, Detroit already showed it can go big on a shorter agreement. A three-year, $115 million deal would probably feel like the upper end for the Tigers, but that kind of number would not be out of character for how they have operated.
There’s still no reason to assume Detroit will jump into the market. In fact, it feels more likely they stay out of it entirely.
But if the Dodgers ultimately settle on a short-term deal Detroit could have matched, that would leave Tigers fans with plenty of questions. Skubal has previously said he loved Detroit and Tigers fans, and while that does not mean he’ll take less money to come back, it could matter if the Tigers decide to make a real run.
In Other News...
Tigers Quietly Made A Depth Move That Puts Focus On Who's Next
The Tigers kept busy with a low-key round of minor league business, bringing back veteran catcher Carlos Prez along with several relief arms on new minor league contracts. Prez had served as the Triple-A depth option behind the plate and was swinging the bat well before an ankle injury ended his season, making his return a sensible move for a club that values catching depth and familiarity in the system.
Detroit also re-signed relievers Moises Rodriguez, Marco Jimenez and Wandisson Charles, each of whom has flashed potential at different minor league levels. Moves like these rarely draw much attention, but they matter in an organization that is always trying to stock enough arms for the long grind, and they also raise the usual question around this time of year: which of these pitchers can force their way into the picture next? [Read more 🡒]
Scott Harris Faces A Quiet Tigers Roster Squeeze This Winter
The winter roster crunch is already showing up on the Tigers calendar, and it starts with the Rule 5 draft. Several prospects could need a 40-man roster spot to stay out of reach, which forces Detroit to weigh long-term development against the risk of losing useful depth for nothing. It is the kind of decision that does not always grab headlines, but it can shape the back end of a roster and expose how a front office values its own pipeline.
Scott Harris and the Tigers also have to navigate a layer of uncertainty beyond their own board, since the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiration could affect whether the draft even happens. In the meantime, Detroits roster strategy remains tied to the broader flexibility created under owner Chris Ilitch, giving the club some room to maneuver if it wants to protect the right players without boxing itself in. Even so, this is the sort of quiet squeeze that can force hard choices sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have A Buy-Low Rotation Target Fans Should Notice
Foster Griffin is the kind of free-agent arm the Tigers have reason to keep on the radar if theyre looking for value rather than headline-grabbing money. The left-hander just finished a postseason run with the Guardians that quietly checked a lot of boxes, turning in a 3.48 ERA over 10 innings with 15 strikeouts and no walks while giving Cleveland another useful option out of the bullpen.
What makes Griffin especially interesting from Detroits perspective is the winding path that brought him back here. After Tommy John surgery in 2021, he spent time in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants before returning to MLB with the Nationals in 2026 and later being traded to Cleveland, a journey that suggests both resilience and adaptability. For a Tigers club that could still benefit from adding pitching depth without overextending itself, Griffin fits the profile of a buy-low target worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]