What happened: The Chicago Cubs are unlikely to enter the bidding war for left-hander Tarik Skubal, according to Sahadev Sharma. While the club faces multiple rotation vacancies heading into 2027, front-office priorities point toward alternative pitching acquisitions.

Why it matters: Stepping back from a top-of-the-market pursuit alters Chicago's offseason blueprint as the front office balances rotation depth against top-end financial commitments. Industry projections place the market for Tarik Skubal at up to $400 million, a threshold requiring substantial franchise payroll flexibility. Bowing out narrows the sweepstakes to other contenders while directing Chicago toward mid-tier starters or secondary trade targets.

What to watch: Chicago will focus its search on mid-tier free-agent starters and trade targets to address its rotation needs. Meanwhile, the market for Skubal is expected to intensify among remaining contenders as the winter meetings approach.