Tarik Skubal is the top free agent on the market. On top of that he is a left-handed ace that should be the Opening Day starter for any team in the league not named the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers or Pittsburgh Pirates… and even those teams would strongly consider putting Skubal on the mound in Game 1 of the 2027 season.
The San Diego Padres have been rumored as a possible landing spot for the lefty in at least a few publications, and the argument for the move is that it would echo the commitment new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones made in press conferences and in their end-of-season letter to season ticket holders. The Padres are in need of pitching this offseason and a move to land Skubal would show the Padres fans and MLB the new owners mean what they say.
The question all San Diego fans have to ask themselves is whether or not Skubal is worth the huge payday he is expected to get. Padres fans know all too well how volatile a pitcher can be. Joe Musgrove missed the majority of two seasons with an elbow injury, Nick Pivetta missed most of the 2026 season with an arm injury and Yu Darvish never touched the mound this season as a result of an arm injury. San Diego ace and likely soon-to-be free agent Michael King missed a chunk of the 2025 season because he “slept wrong” and injured a nerve in his shoulder/neck.
Should the Padres want to spread their money around, whatever amount that might be, they may be better served. King is likely to opt-out of his contract and enter free agency. Reliever Adrian Morejon is a free agent and Ty France who many believe is the 2026 team MVP for the Padres is also a free agent. If Skubal wants $400 million-plus, it may be too rich for one player on a team that needs several players in the rotation and in the starting lineup.
San Diego could have a rotation of Pivetta, if the Padres pick up his option, Musgrove and Randy Vasquez. Others who could make a push for the spot like JP Sears are also on the roster, but unlikely to find what is needed to be in the San Diego rotation to start the season. Musgrove is still an unknown in terms of what he can provide and Darvish COULD return, but he could also just as easily retire depending on how he feels once he gets back to throwing competitive pitches off the mound.
This is an important offseason for the new ownership and as flashy as a Skubal signing might be, it may not be the most beneficial move for the team.
Padres News:
- Walker Buhler gets his grade from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball after his first season in a Padres uniform.
Baseball News:
- Milwaukee takes Game 1 of World Series with 3-2 win over Tampa Bay.
- Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff makes his return and is named to World Series roster.