Overview
- Skubal was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early August and pitched strongly for Los Angeles down the stretch and in the playoffs.
- Bleacher Report analyst Kerry Miller publicly predicted on Monday that the San Diego Padres will sign Skubal, a forecast media outlets have repeated as speculation rather than confirmed news.
- Skubal is widely viewed as the top starting pitcher available after back-to-back AL Cy Young wins and a 2026 regular season of about a 2.72 ERA with 186 strikeouts in roughly 158 innings.
- Reports say Skubal and agent Scott Boras are seeking roughly $40 million per year and multi-hundred-million-dollar guarantees, while teams remain wary because he previously had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.
- A looming CBA deadline and talk of a possible December lockout are compressing negotiations and forcing clubs from the Dodgers to the Mets, Tigers, Phillies, Blue Jays, Cubs and surprise suitors like the White Sox to weigh costly short-term gain against long-term payroll risk.