Skubal Hits Free Agency as Dodgers-Mets Bidding War Looms

Tarik Skubal is officially a free agent, and the race for the best pitcher on the market is about to define baseball's winter. Skubal entered free agency on Monday at 5 p.m. ET, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets widely viewed as his top suitors ahead of a deal projected beyond $300 million — and possibly as high as $400 million over six or seven years, which would set a new record for a starting pitcher. Multiple reporters expect him to sign before the December 1 collective bargaining agreement lockout, and the Chicago Cubs want him but doubt they can match the money. The San Diego Padres, needing a rotation anchor after losing Michael King and Nick Pivetta to free agency, also see Skubal as an ideal fit. Skubal spent two and a half months with the Dodgers in 2026 and reportedly embraced their culture and resources, but ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reports that price remains the deciding factor, and it is unclear whether Los Angeles will match the Mets' spending power amid uncertainty over a possible salary cap. With a lockout looming, a November spending surge like 2021's $1.9 billion frenzy looks increasingly likely — and Skubal is the prize at the centre of it.