Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal enters free agency after NLCS loss
Left-hander Tarik Skubal, who was traded to Los Angeles for the season, will become a top free-agent pitcher following the Dodgers' NLCS elimination.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal watched his team lose Game 4 of the National League Championship Series from the dugout on Thursday night. The 29-year-old will become a free agent after the season, positioning him as one of the most sought-after pitchers on the market.
"I'm not going to comment on my future really at all," Skubal said, according to MLB.com. "Today sucks, you know, and that's kind of where my head's at."
Skubal has appeared in the playoffs for three consecutive years, posting a 2.13 ERA across eight postseason starts, though his teams have not reached the World Series. He earned American League Cy Young awards in 2024 and 2025 and recovered from NanoScope elbow surgery, missing only the period between April 29 and June 13.
The Detroit Tigers traded Skubal to the Dodgers at the trade deadline in exchange for a package that included prospect Zyhir Hope. Between the two clubs this season, he made 26 starts, recording a 12-7 record, a 2.72 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 186 strikeouts over 158 ⅔ innings.
With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire, the timing and size of Skubal's contract could be affected by pending negotiations over a salary cap. Teams may wait for a new agreement before committing to a deal, or they could attempt to secure a contract under the terms of the current agreement. The Dodgers and Skubal will reconvene after the offseason.