Details emerge on Dodgers’ expected offer to Tarik Skubal

The Los Angeles Dodgers may not necessarily be willing to play ball with Tarik Skubal on his terms.

The Dodgers might not be “fierce competitors” on the open market for their star pitcher Skubal unless Skubal is willing to make some concessions in negotiations, Katie Woo of The Athletic reported Tuesday. Woo further adds that the Dodgers may only be serious contenders to re-sign Skubal if he is willing to accept a deal “similar to the structure and concept of Kyle Tucker.”

For reference, the Dodgers outfielder Tucker signed with the team in free agency last offseason. He got a four-year, $240 million contract with a unique structure including opt-outs after Year 2 and Year 3 as well as $30 million in deferred money.

That said, Skubal, who was acquired by the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers at the August trade deadline, might be in a different stratosphere entirely. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner who has yet to turn 30 years old and is already widely regarded as perhaps the very best pitcher in all of baseball.

Skubal also did well after arriving in Los Angeles, going 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 10 regular season starts. He then went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over two postseason starts (though the Dodgers were swept out of the NLCS by the Milwaukee Brewers).

The lefty Skubal, who is represented by Scott Boras, is expected to command offers for a lot longer than four years and for a lot more total money than $240 million. As such, some notable suitors have already emerged to potentially poach Skubal away from Los Angeles.