Dodgers face new big-market contender for Tarik Skubal who want him badly

The MLB lockout set to begin less than a month from now and the time for the Dodgers to try and resign Tarik Skubal is now.The problem for Los Angeles is that other teams have the same desire and could force an all-out bidding war for this year’s top free agent.On Monday morning, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported that “The Chicago Cubs badly want Skubal.”But while they desire to have Skubal lead their rotation, Passan noted that the Cubs “are skeptical that they will be willing to compete at the sort of dollars Skubal is expected to get — well in excess of $300 million, potentially in the $400 million range.”He also noted that the Padres are another candidate to land the two-time Cy Young winner.Last week, the Padres starting rotation was left with a hole after Michael King decided to opt out of his three-year deal he signed with the team last offseason.Shortly after, San Diego chose to opt out of Nick Pivetta’s deal after he spent most of the season on the team’s injured list.“The San Diego Padres need a rotation anchor, and arguably the best pitcher in baseball would more than suffice,” Passan wrote.But while the Cubs and Padres are dreaming of landing Skubal, Passan wrote that he believes the bidding war will come down to the Dodgers and Mets.Passan’s baseball colleague Alden Gonzalez wrote that “Skubal would love to return to the Dodgers.”The reason he believes a return with Los Angeles seems likely is because of the established culture, the organization’s resources, and becoming “besties with Blake Snell.”Gonzalez added that at the end of the day, Skubal’s decision will ultimately “come down to price.And whether the Dodgers would be willing to match Steve Cohen’s Mets or any suitors that materialize given the threat of a salary cap remains to be seen.”...