nypost
Chicago will not be pursuing two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal in free agency this offseason, as reported by Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. The Cubs, who already boast a National League MVP finalist in Pete Crow-Armstrong, appear unwilling to engage in a bidding war for the prized left-hander.
The MLB General Manager Meetings are scheduled to begin Tuesday in Las Vegas, a setting where clubs typically begin laying the foundation for offseason roster moves. However, the Cubs are likely to avoid competing financially with big-spending franchises like the Dodgers and Mets, especially given the current labor uncertainty.
Skubal, who was dealt from the Tigers to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, spent the second half of the 2026 season in Los Angeles. During that stint, he recorded a 2.61 ERA and struck out 70 batters over 62 innings. Beyond his on-field success, Skubal reportedly enjoyed his time with the organization, and that affinity could significantly influence his free agency decisions this winter.
The Cubs had positioned themselves as one of the NL's most formidable postseason teams but were swept by the red-hot Padres in the wild-card round. The bats of Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman went cold in the two-game series, and Chicago is expected to prioritize adding starting pitching this offseason. Nevertheless, Skubal appears to be outside the team's spending range, which gives the Dodgers a clearer path to bringing the left-hander back for 2027 and beyond.
Key Analysis
With the Cubs stepping aside, the Dodgers face less competition in their efforts to retain Skubal, whose brief tenure in Los Angeles left a positive impression. Chicago's focus on adding starting pitching may now shift to more affordable options, while the Dodgers' financial flexibility and Skubal's comfort with the organization make a reunion increasingly plausible.
Originally reported by nypost.