Blake Snell Pitches Dodgers to Tarik Skubal Amid Free Agency Speculation

As the Los Angeles Dodgers face an offseason reshuffling after their National League Championship Series exit, teammate Blake Snell has initiated a recruitment drive for ace pitcher Tarik Skubal to return to the team.

Skubal, acquired by the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade at this year's deadline, is poised to become the top free agent on the market this winter. He could potentially challenge the record for the highest pitcher contract, currently held by Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto at $325 million. Following the Dodgers' sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, Snell expressed his desire for Skubal to stay.

"I just said, he can’t leave me, especially on these terms," Snell told the California Post. "The goal is to win a World Series, and we weren’t able to do that … So now that it’s over, it’s like, ‘Don’t leave.’"

Skubal, who was unavailable for comment regarding his future immediately after the season, previously expressed gratitude for his short tenure with the Dodgers.

"Incredible organization, incredible teammates, incredible fanbase," Skubal said after the Dodgers' elimination. "Doesn’t make this feel any better. It sucks. But you know, I think everybody in here gave it everything they had, and sometimes that’s just baseball."

He added that his time with the team, his first outside of the Detroit Tigers organization, was positive. "It was great. The guys in this clubhouse are great. The veterans who are here, great. The young guys are great. It’s a group that works their a– off and goes out and competes with the best of them." He also noted, "Always had my back from day one. So extremely thankful."

Snell and Skubal, both two-time Cy Young Award winners and left-handed pitchers, developed a close friendship after Skubal's arrival in Los Angeles. They communicated frequently, referred to each other as "best friends" on social media, and even had an AI-generated video of them rapping together go viral.

"He’s just a great human, great pitcher," Snell said of Skubal. "Fun to learn from. Fun to have conversations with. Just talk baseball with."

While Snell and Skubal did not discuss Skubal's future during the season, Snell has made his pitch now that the season has concluded.

"I would love nothing more than for him to be back," Snell stated. "Whether that’s with us or another team, wherever he goes, they’ll know they’re getting a great dude."

The Dodgers are expected to make a strong effort to re-sign Skubal, viewing him as a pivotal addition to their offseason plans. However, the team faces potential financial challenges due to their existing long-term payroll and the possibility of new financial regulations in baseball. Several other teams are also anticipated to pursue Skubal aggressively.

Snell emphasized the strong bond within the Dodgers' pitching staff, including himself, Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. "How much we cared for each other and pushed each other and wanted each other to succeed," Snell said, "it was real."

When asked about the possibility of Skubal re-signing, Snell responded with a grin, "Really bad."