With the season over for 28 out of the 30 teams in MLB, rumors are already starting to swirl around pitching superstar Tarik Skubal. He will be one of the most sought-after players in free agency after finishing the campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. From the sound of it, former first baseman Anthony Rizzo seemingly likes the Chicago Cubs' chances of potentially signing Skubal.
During the latest episode of the “Ross and Rizzo Unfiltered” podcast, Rizzo claimed that the Cubs are the most “obvious fit” for the 29-year-old left-hander. Rizzo believes Skubal will end up signing with a team very quickly in free agency, and named Chicago as his first choice among several organizations that could be in the mix.
“He's going to get paid by a big market,” Rizzo said about Skubal. “I think it's going to happen. It's going to happen before September 1st. With all the CBA stuff coming up, there's gonna be a couple guys that get off the board quick. Skubal's one of them.
“The Cubs are an obvious fit,” Rizzo continued. “I think the Red Sox can be a fit. The Dodgers are obviously going to be in the mix. Padres could be in the mix. You know, [the] Giants could be in the mix. Like, these bigger markets. We'll see.”
Article Continues Below.@ARizzo44 and @D_Ross3 discuss Skubal being a free agent. Where do you see him going? 👀⬇️ pic.twitter.com/BL17vFYaNJ
— Ross and Rizzo Unfiltered (@RossAndRizzo) October 23, 2026
Chicago's campaign ended in the Wild Card round of the playoffs after being swept 2-0 by the San Diego Padres. The high-powered offense essentially disappeared while the pitching struggled to keep the Padres' bats at bay. Adding Skubal to the rotation could be what sets the Cubs apart from the rest of the National League.
Free agency begins shortly after the World Series, as free agent players are free to sign five days after the championship ends. Tarik Skubal will garner plenty of attention after finishing the 2026 season with a 2.72 ERA and 0.964 WHIP, with 186 strikeouts through 158.2 innings pitched, playing for the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers.