Dodgers get major Tarik Skubal free agency update as the offseason is officially underway

Dodgers get major Tarik Skubal free agency update as the offseason is officially underway originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t win their third consecutive World Series, as they were eliminated by the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers were swept, despite loading up for a third consecutive title run, which makes the result even more disappointing.

The biggest move they made was the blockbuster deal before the trade deadline. LA traded for two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

“The price tag was high. But for the back-to-back champion Dodgers, no cost is too steep with a three-peat bid in play. The Dodgers on Saturday agreed on a trade to acquire two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers in a blockbuster ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline. The deal was officially announced on Sunday,” MLB.com’s Sonja Chen wrote.

Skubal is now a free agent for the first time in his career. After the Dodgers were eliminated, he made sure to let it be known that the dynasty wasn’t over.

“I don’t feel that at all,” Skubal said. “It’s hard to win the World Series, and this group has done it the last two seasons. Obviously, not this year, but … I think that this group is incredibly talented. And the preparation and the work ethic that this group has — I don’t buy into that narrative.”

The problem for the Dodgers this offseason is that Skubal is likely going to have to wait until after the lockout if he wants to re-sign with LA. The good news for the Dodgers is that MLB insider Jim Bowden said Skubal loves Los Angeles.

“The sense I get from people that he has talked to, is that he would love to be a Los Angeles Dodger. He loved his time in LA. I think it’s a perfect marriage in LA,” Bowden said.

For the Dodgers, this is great news because Skubal is the top free agent on the market, and they don’t want to lose him to another team. If they can lock down a long-term contract with the best southpaw in baseball, it would give them two of the best pitchers in the league.

Skubal will have a big decision to make, especially with the new rules that could be implemented after the lockout. While he wants to return to LA and everything seems positive right now, there is a possibility that it could become impossible for him to remain a Dodger.

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