What happened: Tarik Skubal is drawing active offseason interest from the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets as trade and contract discussions begin to form across Major League Baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers remain involved in talks as front offices position themselves for top-tier starting pitching.

Why it matters: Skubal anchored the Los Angeles rotation down the stretch after making his Dodgers home debut in August. Securing an ace of his caliber would immediately reset the frontline rotation expectations for any contending club ahead of the 2027 season.

What to watch: Winter meeting discussions and payroll assessments over the coming weeks will determine whether any club meets the high valuation required to land the left-hander.