Tarik Skubal managed to make Dodgers fans do a double take this week, and it had nothing to do with anything happening on the mound.
In a conversation with the LA Times, Skubal talked at length about what Stan Kroenke’s purchase of the Angels could mean for free agency in Anaheim, and he didn’t exactly sound dismissive. When asked whether the move immediately makes the Angels a more appealing landing spot for stars, he didn’t hesitate.
"Absolutely," he told The Times. "Not only an owner that has obvious financial backing, but an owner that has turned the Rams into what the Rams are.
I think they're the Super Bowl favorite this year. There's an owner that cares about winning."
Skubal went further, laying out the kind of ownership investment that can change how players view an organization. "The impact he brings to the Angels?
You bring an owner that really cares about winning and is willing to do whatever it takes to win and invest, not only with players on the field but all the stuff behind the scenes, like clubhouse renovations. I'm sure there will be a lot of stuff there that changes to make it state-of-the-art, because all that stuff matters."
Read quickly, those comments sound a lot like a description of the qualities that have helped the Dodgers become such a magnet for free agents over the years. Financial muscle, a winning reputation, and an organization willing to invest everywhere players can feel it - that’s the blueprint.
That’s why the reaction from Dodgers fans was so immediate. Hearing a rival across town framed in those terms naturally catches attention, especially when the speaker is someone who could be part of the next big market sweep.
Still, there’s an important reality check here. Skubal also told The LA Times that he’s focused on helping the Dodgers go after a third straight World Series this year and hasn’t spent much time thinking about his own free agency yet. He also knows his market could rise with a strong playoff run, which makes the timing of his comments worth noting, even if he was speaking broadly about the league.
There’s also the Scott Boras factor. If this feels a little like early leverage-building, that wouldn’t be shocking. Boras has long been the master of getting a client’s name and value into the conversation before the real bidding starts, so teams already know the landscape by the time the negotiation window opens after the World Series.
Maybe that’s all this was: a little market-setting, a little positioning, and a lot of attention before free agency actually gets serious. Dodgers fans are allowed to feel a twinge of concern after hearing those quotes. But for now, Skubal is still in Dodger blue and still trying to help chase three straight titles - the version of him fans want right now, and the one that keeps the whole thing moving.
In Other News...
Giants Just Sent A Worrying Message About Their Secondary
The Giants are clearly shoring up a cornerback room that has been stretched thin by injuries on the outside. Their latest move brought in Nikko Reed from the Chargers practice squad and onto the active 53-man roster, a depth addition that fits the urgency of the moment after the team also added Jaden Robinson to the practice squad.
Reed arrives as an undrafted rookie out of Oregon who already has five games of NFL experience from his time in Los Angeles before a hamstring injury ended his season. For New York, the transaction is less about adding a long-term name and more about keeping the secondary functional while the boundary spots remain in flux, which is never a comforting place to be this deep into the season. [Read more 🡒]
John Harbaugh Is Already Changing The Giants Coaching Debate
Week 1 brought an immediate reminder of why the Giants coaching search felt so consequential, as John Harbaugh and Mike McCarthy both opened their new tenures with wins. The early contrast was easy to spot: Harbaughs Giants looked inventive and adaptable, while McCarthys Steelers leaned on a more cautious, conservative approach, giving the first week a shape that already invited comparisons between the two hires.
For Giants fans, the bigger point is not just the result but the feel of it. Harbaughs debut offered the kind of flexibility and creativity the organization clearly wanted when it made its decision, and the early return only sharpens the debate over passing on McCarthy. One game is hardly a verdict, but it was enough to show why this choice could define the franchises direction for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Abdul Carter May Be Giving The Giants Defense Its Missing Piece
Abdul Carter wasted little time making his presence felt in Week 1, and the Giants could hardly have asked for a cleaner opening statement from their second-year edge rusher. In the win over the Cowboys, Carter posted a 90.3 PFF grade, finished with five total pressures, and helped force the kind of disruption that turns a defensive possession into a takeaway. Among edge defenders that week, only two graded higher, and no one on the Giants defense topped him.
For a unit that has spent plenty of time searching for a true difference-maker up front, that kind of impact matters. Carter already showed strong pressure production as a rookie, and with a fully guaranteed four-year, $45.3 million contract behind him, the expectation is that this is the level the Giants need to see consistently. If Week 1 was any indication, the more interesting question is not whether Carter can help this defense, but how quickly he can become the piece that changes its ceiling. [Read more 🡒]