Dodgers' Kyle Tucker signing just made it harder for Tigers to keep Tarik Skubal

When the Chicago Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker last offseason, most fans already knew what to expect this offseason.

The Cubs weren't going to be the top bidder for Tucker when he hit free agency, despite giving up a hefty package that included a top prospect, an All-Star third baseman, and a controllable starting pitcher to have him for one season. Tucker was earmarked for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it's no surprise that the Dodgers swooped in and grabbed him this offseason. It also foreshadows the outcome for Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers.

Tucker's free agency is a reminder that if the Dodgers want someone, they are going to find a way to get them. Every time.

Throughout the offseason, the expectation was that the Toronto Blue Jays would be the team to land the 2025 National League Silver Slugger. If not the Blue Jays, then the New York Mets had an enticing short-term offer on the table that carried an incredibly high AAV.

True to form, the Dodgers burst onto the scene at the last minute, giving Tucker a $64 million signing bonus as part of a four-year deal worth $240 million. Tucker's deal also has an opt-out after the second year, and $30 million in deferrals. It brings his AAV to nearly $60 million, something that no one would have expected at the start of the offseason.

Tigers fans won’t like what Kyle Tucker’s move might mean for Tarik Skubal

If there's a will, the Dodgers are going to find a way. It's an uncomfortable truth that the Tigers have to live with. Of course, it's also one they created.

Skubal is represented by Scott Boras, so there was never a likelihood that the southpaw was going to sign an extension before reaching free agency. But the Tigers have also done themselves no favors with their handling of the circus that is Skubal's arbitration.

Every indication is that Skubal will hit free agency next offseason. If he does, the Dodgers are going to make him an offer tha the can't refuse.

If not free agency, then it's going to be at the trade deadline. The only thing that needs to be determined is how much Skubal will make in 2026 and whether the Tigers will be contenders. If they fall out of contention by July, or even teetering, Skubal is as good as gone.

The Dodgers have already circled Skubal. As Tucker's free agency just proved, it's only a matter of time before Los Angeles gets their man.