Overview
- Tarik Skubal is the top arm available after a 2026 season split between Detroit and the Dodgers that produced a 2.72 ERA, 186 strikeouts and a 0.96 WHIP, and he is widely projected to seek a record pitching deal.
- Industry estimates center on an average projection of eight years and about $355 million, with most forecasts falling between $325 million and $400 million, making Skubal the most expensive pitcher on the market.
- The Dodgers are viewed as a leading suitor but are unlikely to sign a mega-extension before the collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 because owners want clarity on the post‑CBA economics.
- If Skubal is unsigned when the CBA lapses and owners impose a lockout, free-agent signings and trades would halt, which could give the Tigers extra time to try to re-enter the market for the pitcher they traded on Aug. 1.
- Teams will weigh Skubal’s elite recent performance against a notable surgical history — Tommy John in college, flexor tendon surgery in 2022 and a NanoScope procedure in 2026 — while the Dodgers also face roster choices to make room for prospect Josue De Paula.