New Tarik Skubal Rumors Update Dodgers' Stance on Contract Talks in MLB Free Agency

If the Los Angeles Dodgers bring back Tarik Skubal, they hope to do so on a deal structured similarly to the one they gave Kyle Tucker last offseason.

Per The Athletic's Katie Woo, the Dodgers are primarily interested in retaining Skubal on a short-term contract with a high average annual salary.

Tucker, arguably the best free agent available last offseason, signed a four-year, $240 million contract with LA that has opt-outs after years two and three.

The deal included $30 million in deferred money, bringing the present-day average annual value down from $60 million to $57.1 million that still set an MLB record for highest average annual salary ahead of Juan Soto's $51 million.

There are reasons to believe it might be difficult to make a short-term contract to appeal to Skubal. The first is Tucker signed his deal going into his age-29 season, so he could potentially hit the market again at 31 or 32 if he exercises his opt-out.

Skubal is going into his age-30 season and even if he were to get an opt-out after his second year, the market for a 32-year-old pitcher is not always robust.

Zack Wheeler, Framber Valdez and Jacob deGrom are currently the only pitchers making at least $30 million annually who signed their most recent contracts at the age of 32 or older.

Another potential issue for the Dodgers is Skubal is widely believed to get offers that will be the richest ever given to a pitcher by total value. Yoshinobu Yamamoto currently holds the record at $325 million over 12 years on his deal with the Dodgers.

MLB Trade Rumors predicted a nine-year, $425 million deal for Skubal.

Another factor potentially working against Skubal signing a short-term deal is he already had Tommy John surgery in college and missed time last season due to loose bodies in his elbow that required surgery.

This is Skubal's first chance to secure whatever contract he wants. His injury history, while not extensive, might lead him to take the biggest deal.

Of course, it's entirely reasonable to think Skubal enjoyed his time with the Dodgers and their history of spending to improve the roster would appeal to him that he would accept a short-term offer.

Skubal posted a 2.61 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 62 innings in 10 starts with the Dodgers after being acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers. He also allowed three earned runs and struck out 14 over 11 innings in two playoff starts.