MLB insider makes bold Dodgers, Mets prediction for Tarik Skubal's free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Like every season, there are going to be some interesting names becoming free agents around Major League Baseball after the 2026 season.
But there is one player who stands out as the best one by a wide margin: Tarik Skubal. He's currently on the Los Angeles Dodgers after being acquired at the MLB trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers. But he'll test the market in free agency after 2026.
According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers won't be alone in their pursuit of Skubal. But Nightengale is predicting that only the New York Mets will be active in contract talks, as he's predicting a two-team race for the services of Skubal this winter.
Dodgers, Mets expected to be only teams competing for Tarik Skubal in FA
"The cold-hearted truth is that there will be only two teams who will make serious bids for his services: The Dodgers and New York Mets. That's it," Nightengale writes.
Nightingale doesn't believe any other team in baseball will be in serious play for Skubal this upcoming offseason.
The Dodgers, of course, will be leading the charge with their incomparable ability to spend a lot of money. But the Mets are also set to be involved in the sweepstakes.
MORE: Tigers feared Tarik Skubal’s trade market would disappear if they waited too long to trade him
Just like last offseason, when the Dodgers beat the Mets to the punch and signed both Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker to massive new contracts, these two teams are going to compete again for the prize of the offseason in Skubal.
While neither Tucker nor Diaz has been all that good for the Dodgers, Skubal, the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, should be worth the massive payday he's seeking this offseason.
But Nightengale is predicting that it's only going to be the Dodgers and Mets involved in his market. The New York Yankees, Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and all other teams are not expected to be involved.
More MLB news:
- Phillies receive slightly worrying 65% playoff odds projection from ESPN
- Red Sox get 8.2% chance to win World Series, which is more than Yankees’ odds
- Dodgers prospect Kendall George to undergo knee surgery months after viral bat dog incident
- Dave Dombrowski reveals why Phillies didn't trade for a righty-hitting outfielder
- Brewers ‘toyed’ with idea of trading for Padres closer Mason Miller