What happened: The Los Angeles Dodgers and ace left-hander Tarik Skubal share mutual interest in continuing their partnership, per Bob Nightengale. The alignment reinforces Los Angeles' priority to keep the starter at the top of their rotation heading into the 2027 season.

Why it matters: Securing Skubal to a multi-year deal would stabilize the Dodgers' rotation ahead of their 2027 campaign. Contract projections for the ace reach up to $400 million, positioning any long-term pact among the largest pitching investments in baseball history.

What to watch: Negotiations will progress as the winter meetings approach, with contract structure and length serving as the focal points for finalizing a deal.