Tarik Skubal is about to hit free agency as a two-time AL Cy Young winner, and while he gears up for his first postseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB insiders are already buzzing about where this pitching ace might land. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel surveyed those in the know, and the big shocker? The Detroit Tigers, the very team that traded Skubal to L.A. on August 2nd, are listed as one of the “true contenders” to sign him. This is wild, especially when Skubal himself told USA Today that Detroit made “no offer” to him last offseason before they shipped him out. What a turn of events!
The Frontrunners: Deep Pockets, Deeper Problems?
So, aside from the Tigers, the Dodgers and the New York Mets are also considered “true contenders” for Skubal’s signature, with the New York Yankees “just behind” that lead group. The Dodgers, no surprise, are in the mix since Skubal’s already pitching there and they’re known for shelling out for the league’s best free agents every year. But get this: insiders apparently have “some hesitation” about including them because of the whole ownership situation. Mark Walter, who owned a majority stake in the Dodgers, sold his majority stake in the Lakers earlier this year. Dodgers officials are saying the MLB club isn’t for sale, but you gotta wonder if that’s gonna make them pump the brakes on a massive Skubal deal.
Then you’ve got the Mets. They dropped almost $240 million in free agency last winter and still managed a dismal 74-88 record in 2026. Fans in Queens are absolutely furious about how that money was spent, and you know Mets president David Stearns is feeling the heat. He caught a ton of flak for not even trying to bring back Pete Alonso before he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. How aggressive can they really afford to be for Skubal with that kind of fan unrest and a huge payroll that didn’t deliver?
Sleeper Teams: New Owners and Shaky Foundations
McDaniel also threw out some “sleeper” teams: the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels. The White Sox stand out here. Their offense was fifth in runs and sixth in homers this season, so if they can actually upgrade their rotation, they could seriously make a leap and become a top-tier AL team. Imagine Skubal anchoring that staff.
The Angels are a whole different beast. Stan Kroenke is set to take over as owner, buying the club from Arte Moreno for a cool $3.9 billion. A new owner usually means a desire to make a huge splash, and Skubal would definitely be that. But here’s the catch: the Angels just lost a franchise-record 100 games and their farm system, while improving, is still pretty middling. Throwing a massive amount of money at Skubal right now might make them interesting in the short term, but is it really the best move for a team so far away from contention? It’s a gamble.
Skubal’s numbers speak for themselves. He absolutely balled out in 2026, finishing the regular season with a 2.72 ERA and 186 strikeouts over 158.2 innings across 26 starts for both the Tigers and Dodgers. This was his fourth consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA and at least 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. This dude is elite.
As Skubal prepares to show what he can do in the postseason, the whispers about his future are only going to get louder. Teams are lining up, some with serious baggage, some with new owners ready to shake things up, and one that just can’t seem to get out of its own way. This is going to be one wild free agency ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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