{"id":2146,"section":"sports","section_label":"Sports","url":"https://www.brokenews.co/sports/2146","headline":"Skubal free agency turns into a league-wide guessing game","dek":"The reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young winner is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Mets, Padres and others while the Cubs say they will watch from the sidelines.","body":"Tarik Skubal is about to become the most expensive pitcher any team has ever signed, and seemingly every contender wants to be the one writing the check. The left-hander, who turns 30 on Nov. 20, posted a 2.72 ERA, 10.55 K/9 and 1.53 BB/9 in 2026 while going 12-7 across 26 starts split between the Tigers and Dodgers.\n\nThe Dodgers, who got a look at him down the stretch, remain in the mix to re-sign him. The Mets have also been floated as suitors. Now add the Padres to the list: MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported San Diego is \"among the most active teams in the free agent starter market,\" though he stopped short of naming Skubal directly.\n\nNot everyone is playing. The Cubs are reportedly planning to sit out the bidding war entirely, even as their own rotation needs remain obvious, choosing instead to check in on the rest of the free-agent pitching market. Meanwhile at least one National League team with big-market ambitions has reportedly dropped out of the chase altogether.\n\nAll of this is playing out against the backdrop of a looming lockout, with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Skubal's decision could shape the rotation landscape well before anyone finds out if there is even a season to pitch in.","published_at":"2026-11-09T23:17:45.300620+00:00","source_count":5,"written_from":[{"outlet":"NBC Sports","publisher":"NBC Sports","title":"Tarik Skubal Free Agency Rumors: Mets, Dodgers lead list of potential suitors","url":"https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/tarik-skubal-free-agency-rumors-mets-dodgers-lead-list-of-potential-suitors"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Padres rumors: Latest free agency report will have fans dreaming of Tarik Skubal signing with San Diego","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/padres-rumors-latest-free-agency-192208134.html"},{"outlet":"New York Post","publisher":"New York Post","title":"Twist in chase for Dodger’s star pitcher Tarik Skubal as NL rival drops out","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/11/09/sports/dodgers-nl-rival-drops-out-tarik-skubal-sweepstakes/"},{"outlet":"The Athletic","publisher":"The Athletic","title":"Cubs plan to sit out Tarik Skubal bidding war, but pitching needs are clear","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7764521/2026/11/09/cubs-tarik-skubal-pitching-needs-offseason/"},{"outlet":"CBS Sports","publisher":"CBS Sports","title":"MLB rumors: Why the Dodgers could be Tarik Skubal or bust; Red Sox looking for pitching depth","url":"https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-rumors-dodgers-tarik-skubal-contract-red-sox-pitching-depth/"}],"more_coverage":[{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Dodgers notes: Tarik Skubal, Josue De Paula","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dodgers-notes-tarik-skubal-josue-130700072.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Insider Speaks On What Tarik Skubal Deal With Dodgers Would Look Like","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/insider-speaks-tarik-skubal-deal-141542231.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Report: Cubs 'Unlikely To Enter Bidding War' For Tarik Skubal","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/report-cubs-unlikely-enter-bidding-154548069.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Cubs make clear Tarik Skubal decision amid $352 million prediction","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cubs-clear-tarik-skubal-decision-164619278.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"MLB insider reveals when Tarik Skubal will sign record-breaking contract","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mlb-insider-reveals-tarik-skubal-170119055.html"},{"outlet":"New York Post","publisher":"New York Post","title":"Tarik Skubal might not be Dodgers’ only star target this offseason","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/11/09/sports/tarik-skubal-not-dodgers-only-star-offseason-target/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"MLB rumors: Cubs’ Tarik Skubal sleeper status amid Dodgers vs. Mets battle immediately gets cold water dumped on it","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mlb-rumors-cubs-tarik-skubal-173048136.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Tarik Skubal Free Agency Rumors: Mets, Dodgers lead list of potential suitors","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tarik-skubal-free-agency-rumors-195840526.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Tarik Skubal might not be Dodgers’ only star target this offseason","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tarik-skubal-might-not-dodgers-165308133.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Twist in chase for Dodgers’ star pitcher Tarik Skubal as NL rival drops out","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/twist-chase-dodgers-star-pitcher-172930410.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"MLB Insider Favors Mets Over Dodgers in Tarik Skubal Sweepstakes","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mlb-insider-favors-mets-over-230923856.html"}],"image":{"url":"https://nbcsports.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d8d3a7/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1920x1080!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhdliveextra-a.akamaihd.net%2FHD%2Fimage_sports%2FNBCU_Sports_Group_-_nbcsports%2F605%2F275%2Fnbc_mlb_theccs_261104.jpg","credit":"NBC Sports","width":1920},"embed":null,"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","attribution":"Analysis data is licensed CC BY 4.0. Credit brokenews and link to the story page you took it from. Source headlines, story titles taken from a source headline, and quoted passages remain the property of their publishers and are quoted for comparison, not licensed onward.","terms":"https://www.brokenews.co/about#reuse"}