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On what might have been his final night in the Dodgers clubhouse, Tarik Skubal did not want to contemplate his future.
From two lockers over, however, teammate Blake Snell didn’t waste any time in beginning to make a sales pitch to this winter’s top free agent player.
“I just said, he can’t leave me, especially on these terms,” Snell told the California Post, following the Dodgers’ elimination in the National League Championship Series. “The goal is to win a World Series, and we weren’t able to do that … So now that it’s over, it’s like, ‘Don’t leave.’”
When the offseason begins next month, there will be plenty of other teams making their own efforts to woo Skubal.
As a 29-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner, he could be poised to break MLB’s record signing for a pitcher, currently held by fellow Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto at $325 million.
The Dodgers, however, might have something of a leg up.
After they traded for Skubal in a blockbuster deal at this year’s deadline from the Detroit Tigers, the left-hander quickly embraced his surroundings in Los Angeles.
“Incredible organization, incredible teammates, incredible fanbase,” he said, after being denied the chance to start a potential Game 5 following the Dodgers’ four-game sweep to the Brewers. “Doesn’t make this feel any better. It sucks. But you know, I think everybody in here gave it everything they had, and sometimes that’s just baseball.”
When asked if he hoped to be back with the Dodgers next year, Skubal wasn’t ready to begin speculating about his free agency.
“I’m not going to comment on my future really at all,” he said. “Today sucks. That’s kind of where my head’s at.”
But when reflecting on how much he enjoyed his three-month stint in the organization –– the first time he had played for any other team than the Tigers –– he was effusive in his praise for the club and its players.
“It was great,” he said. “The guys in this clubhouse are great. The veterans who are here, great. The young guys are great. It’s a group that works their a– off and goes out and competes with the best of them.”
“Extremely grateful for all the guys in this clubhouse and how they welcomed me and supported me,” he added. “Always had my back from day one. So extremely thankful.”
Few players had more of an impact on Skubal than Snell –– a fellow left-handed, two-time Cy Young Award winner who just happens to share the same representative in super-agent Scott Boras.
From almost the moment Skubal arrived, he and Snell struck up a friendship that helped the midseason acquisition quickly acclimate to his new, unfamiliar surroundings.
They talked practically daily. They referred to themselves as “best friends” in social media posts. Their bond became so evident to the rest of the roster, Miguel Rojas created an AI video of them wrapping together that went viral on social media.
“He’s just a great human, great pitcher,” Snell said. “Fun to learn from. Fun to have conversations with. Just talk baseball with.”
And while, during the season, Snell said they didn’t discuss Skubal’s future, the recruiting effort was on as soon as their campaign ended Thursday night.
“I would love nothing more,” Snell said, “than for him to be back.”
The Dodgers, of course, are expected to pursue Skubal this winter. Just like when they made him a priority at the deadline, he represents the most impactful potential move they could make during the offseason.
That doesn’t mean re-signing him will be easy. The threat of a lockout, and potential implementation of a salary cap or other stricter financial regulations, could complicate their ability to add another mega-contract to their already bloated long-term payroll.
Skubal will have no dearth of other serious suitors, as well.
Snell knows that, noting that regardless of what happens, “I’m excited for what’s to come for him.”
“Whether that’s with us or another team, wherever he goes, they’ll know they’re getting a great dude,” he said.
However, this year’s Dodgers rotation of them, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow formed an impactful collective relationship.
“How much we cared for each other and pushed each other and wanted each other to succeed,” Snell said, “it was real.”
Which is why, when Snell was asked how badly he wanted Skubal to re-sign with the Dodgers, he cracked a sly grin.
“Really bad,” he said.
Already, the Skubal sweepstakes are underway.