Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Tarik Skubal will enter MLB free agency this offseason. Skubal was acquired by LA before the trade deadline in August, and the southpaw made a significant impact down the stretch. However, the Dodgers were defeated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. Another team that fell short in the playoffs was the Philadelphia Phillies, who were defeated in the NL Wild Card Series by the Atlanta Braves. While the Dodgers remain in the conversation to sign Skubal, could the Phillies swoop in and agree to a contract with the star pitcher?

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com recently revealed potential Skubal suitors in an article. Feinsand expects the Phillies to be a “dark horse” in the Skubal sweepstakes.

“Dave Dombrowski has never been shy about spending in free agency, so the Phillies are at least a dark horse candidate to make a play for Skubal,” Feinsand wrote.

While the MLB.com reporter noted that Philadelphia is likely a “long shot” to sign him, the door is not closed on the possibility.

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Skubal won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025. He missed some time in 2026 and was traded from Detroit to LA, so he is not expected to win a third consecutive Cy Young. Still, he pitched to a strong 2.72 ERA across 26 total outings while striking out 186 hitters. He's one of the best pitchers in baseball and would unquestionably give a pitching staff a crucial boost.

It would not be surprising to see the Phillies make a run at signing Tarik Skubal.