The Dodgers are still sorting through the shape of their pitching future, and two names sat at the center of the conversation this week: Tarik Skubal and Shohei Ohtani.
General manager Brandon Gomes spoke with reporters Tuesday in Las Vegas and added to the team’s thinking on Skubal, the biggest free agent on the market this year. Then on Wednesday, Skubal’s agent Scott Boras took his turn in front of the media and made it clear just how much attention his client is drawing.
“Much like 2021, there’s a clear intent on a group of players, and we have no reservations by any teams that they’re going to operate within their abilities and freedoms because they want they don’t want to lose to their competitors,” Boras told reporters. “They want the market to be what it is for them, and they’re utilizing their rights to compete. I think they’re very concerned about losing the opportunity to sign select, key players, and they’re pursuing it aggressively.”
Maddie Lee of the L.A. Times covered Boras’ comments and also dug into what he said about Skubal, along with what the Dodgers’ pitching staff does and doesn’t need heading into the 2027 season, should there be one.
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic also reported on Boras’ thoughts about the offseason and the possibility of an impending lockout. In typical Boras fashion, the whole news conference became part of the show. His team had chosen a location for the annual media session that was not sanctioned by the ARIA hotel, which led to the event being moved elsewhere.
Stavenhagen noted that Boras strongly hinted Skubal would sign before the impending lockout, just as clients Marcus Semien and Corey Seager did in 2021-22 before that season’s lockout.
“I think they’re very concerned about losing the opportunity to sign select key players, and they are pursuing it aggressively,” Boras said.
On the Dodgers side, one thing is certain: Shohei Ohtani will be on the team next season. What isn’t settled is when he’ll first get back on the mound. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that the club still doesn’t know when the two-way star will return to pitching, and Gomes said the team wants Ohtani involved in the process.
“Whatever it is, there’s just a lot of different avenues, and I think for us to unilaterally decide that doesn’t make sense. So it’s really bringing him into the conversation and figuring out how to navigate a full season.”
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