Though he was with the Dodgers only a few months, starting pitcher Tarik Skubal sparked the star-studded roster, and while bringing him back likely requires a huge contract, the Dodgers would be remiss to let him go.
What does Tarik Skubal mean to the Dodgers?
The lefty, who won the American League Cy Young Award in both 2024 and 2025, met the massive expectations placed on him when he joined the Dodgers just before the trade deadline.
Yes, the Dodgers failed in their quest for a third straight championship, but a shaky bullpen and an inability to consistently drive in runners in scoring position were largely to blame.
Per Baseball Reference, Skubal started 10 regular-season games for the Dodgers, averaging more than six innings per outing and posting a 5-2 record with a 2.61 ERA.
His two playoff starts were a bit more uneven, with his dominant Game 1 start against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series setting the stage for the Dodgers’ series win.
In that game, he allowed one run over six innings, striking out seven and giving up two hits and two walks.
Eight days later, he started Game 1 of the NLCS, but this time he gave up two runs in five innings, a hurdle his offense couldn’t clear.
Despite the rough end to the season, Skubal has more than shown he can succeed in LA.
Would Tarik Skubal come back to the Dodgers?
For Skubal, money will certainly be a factor. He’s reportedly looking at a long-term deal worth about $40 million per year over seven or so seasons.
The Dodgers could offer that kind of contract, especially before a potential lockout and maybe a salary cap, but more than that, they can offer Skubal consistency and winning baseball.
Skubal has said how much he’s enjoyed playing in LA, and he recently told Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times that the Dodgers are set to make a run at more World Series titles.
“It’s hard to win the World Series, and this group has done it the last two seasons,” he said. “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.”
Do you think Tarik Skubal is coming back to the Dodgers?