The Dodgers just paid a blockbuster price for Tarik Skubal. Now the bigger question is whether they try to keep the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner from ever reaching free agency.
Los Angeles acquired Skubal from Detroit on August 2, giving the defending champions the kind of frontline arm that can change a playoff rotation overnight. But the left-hander is headed toward free agency after the 2026 season, which puts immediate pressure on the Dodgers to decide whether this is a one-year championship rental or the start of a much longer partnership.
The contract backdrop is fascinating. Scott Boras said the Tigers once offered Skubal four years and $75 million, a proposal that never got close to the pitcher’s projected value. After another dominant season and a trade that signaled how aggressively Los Angeles views him, the market could now push north of $300 million if Skubal reaches free agency healthy.
- Known: The Dodgers control Skubal for the rest of 2026, and his current deal does not lock him up beyond the season.
- Reported: Detroit previously tried to start extension talks, but the sides never found common ground.
- Speculation: Los Angeles could test the waters before October, especially if Skubal anchors another deep postseason run.
There is no indication an extension is close. Still, the Dodgers rarely surrender premium prospects without considering the bigger picture. If Skubal dominates October, the bidding clock could start much sooner than expected.