The Dodgers may be staring at a busy November before the offseason ever really settles in. With an MLB lockout looming, league rules still in flux and free agents eligible to sign this month, the opening stretch of the offseason could turn into a sprint.
One name sits near the center of it all: Tarik Skubal. The pitcher joined the Dodgers just before the All-Star break and, according to the source, delivered on his promise. Los Angeles has nine players headed for free agency this winter, and Skubal may be the most significant of the group.
Scott Boras, Skubal’s agent, told Andy McCullough of The Athletic that the coming shutdown could push teams to move faster. In his view, waiting may not be the smartest play if the next collective bargaining agreement brings new restrictions.
“For many teams, I can make an argument it’s clearly best for them to sign players currently, before the (new) CBA, than it is after,” agent Scott Boras said. “Because they have more freedom to do what they’re going to do.
They can react later. Now they can get the talent.
They can get what they want.”
The possible effect of a new agreement goes beyond timing. If a salary cap is part of the deal, Boras said it could reduce both what players earn and how freely teams can chase top-end talent.
The Dodgers also won’t be limited to their own free agents. They can shop the market, too, and that could matter if they really are trying to get younger. Free agency may be the cleanest path to do that, especially with the chance that future rules could make it harder to build that way later.
One possible fit is Japanese star Teruaki Sato. He’ll be available to sign in November and, based on the source, would give the Dodgers a needed boost in hitting after a stretch in October when they struggled to drive in runs.
Of course, Los Angeles won’t be alone in this market. Skubal, Sato and plenty of other players are going to draw attention, and that’s what makes this November feel so unsettled. The Dodgers could be active, but they’ll be fighting off a crowded field while the league waits on whatever comes next.
In Other News...
Dodgers Suddenly Have An Elly De La Cruz Trade Debate
Elly De La Cruzs looming contract situation has already turned him into one of the more intriguing names to watch this offseason, even before the market fully opens. The Reds shortstop and two-time All-Star recently declined a record extension and is now entering his first offseason of arbitration eligibility, which is enough to keep rival executives, fans and analysts thinking about where his next big step might eventually come.
During the postseason, Joey Votto pushed the conversation even further by floating a hypothetical deal that would send De La Cruz to the Dodgers for top prospect Josue De Paula. It remains a long shot, but the mere mention of De Paula underscores why the idea has traction as a debate topic, since the young outfielder has built a strong reputation with his offense and upside. For the Dodgers, it is the kind of star-for-prospect discussion that always invites attention, even when the odds say it is more thought experiment than real blueprint. [Read more 🡒]
Mookie Betts' Reaction Says Everything About What Dodgers Are Losing
Miguel Rojas has long been more than a utility infielder for the Dodgers. Over the past several seasons, he became one of the clubs most respected voices in the clubhouse, a steadying presence who helped younger players and stars alike sharpen their approach, including Mookie Betts on the defensive side. That kind of influence rarely shows up in a box score, but it has been a real part of why the Dodgers valued him so highly, and why he earned three Roy Campanella Awards for his leadership and inspiration.
Now Rojas is set to retire from playing after the 2026 season, closing the book on a 13-year career that left a strong imprint in Los Angeles. The good news for the Dodgers is that he is not leaving the organization entirely, since he will move into a front office role centered on player development. Even so, the transition marks the end of an era for a team that has leaned on his voice, his example and the kind of day-to-day guidance that can be hard to replace. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Got A Telling Skubal Update From Andrew Friedman
Tarik Skubals arrival gave the Dodgers exactly the kind of late-season boost they had hoped for, and his work in October only added to the belief inside the organization that he could be part of the long-term picture. As he heads into free agency, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was complimentary of the way Skubal handled the transition and made it clear the club appreciates what he brought during his time in Los Angeles.
Friedman also said the Dodgers will keep talking with agent Scott Boras, but the next move belongs to Skubal and his family. For a team that just watched him show well in the postseason, the offseason now becomes about whether the Dodgers can turn a strong short-term fit into something much more permanent. [Read more 🡒]