The Dodgers may want Tarik Skubal back, but the road to a reunion looks a lot steeper than it did when they landed him at the trade deadline.
Skubal, the Cy Young-winning left-hander, came over from the Detroit Tigers this past season in a deal that sent three prospects back the other way, including Top 100 names Zyhir Hope and River Ryan. Once he got to Los Angeles, he wasted no time making an impact.
Over his final 10 regular-season starts, Skubal put up a 2.61 ERA and punched out 70 batters in 62 innings. He then carried that form into October, making two postseason appearances and allowing just three earned runs over 11 innings while striking out 14.
Now the question is whether the Dodgers can actually keep him.
The biggest obstacle is the kind of number Skubal is expected to command. Forecasts have him landing somewhere in the $350 million to $400 million range on his next contract, and that price tag may be too rich for Los Angeles given the uncertainty hanging over MLB’s financial future.
“But Skubal could command a $400 million contract, and the Dodgers don’t see themselves going to those lengths given the uncertainty of MLB’s economic situation moving forward, sources familiar with their thinking said,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote. “The threat of a salary cap in 2028 - or, more realistically, 2029 or 2030 - has some Dodgers officials thinking that their only path to landing Skubal might be through a short-term, high-AAV deal, the type he’s highly unlikely to accept.
“Is there a chance owner Mark Walter, who’s facing a federal investigation over alleged self-dealing, approves a nine-figure deal for Skubal? That can never be counted out.
But at this point, that does not seem to be on the table. At least not before a potential Dec. 1 lockout.”
Even with that warning sign, it would be a mistake to write the Dodgers off completely. They’ve shown plenty of times that they’re willing to chase the biggest names on the market, and they’ve found ways to get creative before. Kyle Tucker wanted a long-term deal last offseason, but the Dodgers still got him on a four-year, $240 million agreement.
That doesn’t mean they can pull off the same kind of structure with Skubal. But it does mean they’ll be in the mix, especially with his “ideal fit” status making him a natural target.
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For a club that has made minimal moves so far, the decision goes beyond one players future. The Dodgers are juggling trade talks and free agency at the same time, and moving Hernandez would not just alter the outfield picture, it could also help clear space for prospects pushing for a bigger role. The question now is whether Los Angeles views him as a short-term piece worth keeping or a valuable chip in a roster reshaping that is still very much in motion. [Read more 🡒]