Tarik Skubal Drops Blunt Response to Free Agency Question After Dodgers’ NLCS Exit

Tarik Skubal and the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a 4-0 sweep in the NLCS and were eliminated from the 2026 postseason.

Tarik Skubal Drops Blunt Response to Free Agency Question After Dodgers’ NLCS Exit

Tarik Skubal (Image via X/@SleeperDodgers)

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2026 journey ended on Thursday following a 6-4 loss in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS). The two-time defending champions got swept 4-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-seven series. Following their exit, Tarik Skubal dropped a blunt response to his impending free agency question.

The 2-time Cy Young Award winner joined the Dodgers in August before the trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers. While the southpaw wanted to stay in Detroit and had openly expressed this desire, there was a huge gap in negotiations over a contract extension between him and the team.

To bring in Skubal, the Dodgers gave up Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith. After some early hiccups, he soon settled in the pitching rotation.

In 10 starts, he went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and picked up 70 strikeouts. He started both Games 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) and the NLCS. While he got the win against the Atlanta Braves, he was the losing pitcher in the series opener against the Brewers.

In the 4th inning in Game 1, he gave up a game-tying opposite-field home run to Brice Turang. In the 5th inning, he conceded a single to Luis Lara, which saw the Brewers take a 2-1 lead, which they held on to win.

Skubal would have started Game 5 if the Dodgers were able to force that. In Game 4, they were 4-0 up thanks to a 3-run home run from Shohei Ohtani. However, they blew the lead, lost 6-4, and suffered a brutal 4-0 sweep.

Now that the Dodgers’ season is over, questions were immediately raised about the future of Skubal. He will become a free agent and be available to every team. The Dodgers are expected to be in the race for him and bring him back.

Skubal, though, does not want to think about his future at the moment. In the press conference after the game, the former Tigers star refused to comment on this matter.

Yeah, I’m not going to comment on my future really at all. Today sucks, you know, and that’s kind of where my head’s at.

Tarik Skubal said as per Sonja Chen

Skubal’s 2026 campaign ends with him going 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA in 26 starts combined. He also missed around 6 weeks of action after an elbow surgery.

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NY Mets are expected to match any offer for Tarik Skubal

This offseason, Tarik Skubal will be the big free agent that several teams will chase. The New York Mets are one of the teams that are linked with him. As per reports, they are expected to go heavy and match any offer in pursuit of the left-handed pitcher.

Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal (Image via X/@JustBB_Media)

The Mets had another disappointing campaign this season as they missed out on the postseason once again. They went 74-88 and finished last in the NL East for the first time in over 2 decades.

During their season-ending conference, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns claimed that it was necessary for them to add pitchers to their rotation.

Who would be better to fix a rotation than Skubal? As per insider Chelsea Janes, the Mets are expected to match any high offer made to him and try to persuade him to join them in New York.

The Mets do not shy away when it comes to flexing their financial muscles. Two years ago, they broke the MLB record for the biggest free agent signing by landing Juan Soto on a 15-year, $765 million deal.

While Skubal’s free agency might not reach the $700 million mark set by Soto and Ohtani, he is still expected to land a new deal around $400 million to $500 million.

If that happens, his deal would become the highest contract for a pitcher. This record currently belongs to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers in 2023.

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