Tarik Skubal gave the Dodgers exactly what they needed when he arrived, and now the question is whether they’re willing to pay the price to keep him.
The left-hander, who won the American League Cy Young Award in both 2024 and 2025, joined Los Angeles just before the trade deadline and lived up to the hype almost immediately. Over 10 regular-season starts, he went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA, averaged more than six innings per outing, and gave the Dodgers the kind of rotation stability they could lean on down the stretch.
The postseason was less spotless, but Skubal still left his mark. His best moment came in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, when he worked six innings, allowed one run, struck out seven, and gave up just two hits and two walks. That outing helped set the tone for the Dodgers’ series win.
Eight days later, he was back on the mound for Game 1 of the NLCS, where he allowed two runs in five innings. This time, the offense couldn’t bail him out.
Even with the uneven finish, the larger picture is clear: Skubal proved he can handle Los Angeles. The bigger obstacle is financial. He’s reportedly seeking a long-term contract that would pay about $40 million per year over seven or so seasons, a number the Dodgers could be positioned to meet, especially before a potential lockout and maybe a salary cap.
There’s also the fit itself. Skubal has said he enjoyed his time in Los Angeles, and he recently told Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times that the Dodgers are built to keep chasing championships.
“It’s hard to win the World Series, and this group has done it the last two seasons,” he said. “Obviously, not this year, but … I think that this group is incredibly talented. And the preparation and the work ethic that this group has - I don’t buy into that narrative.”
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