What happened: Jon Heyman reports the Padres should not be dismissed in the pursuit of free-agent left-hander Tarik Skubal. Heyman's latest projections place San Diego ahead of the Dodgers as the favorite to sign him.

Why it matters: Skubal heads the top-100 free-agent class with contract projections reaching $400 million. A Padres run at him would put them in direct competition with the Dodgers for the top arm on the market.

What to watch: An expected Dec. 1 lockout could accelerate deals, putting pressure on suitors to move before then.