Why Dodgers 'have to be' viewed as favorites to sign Tarik Skubal

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Tarik Skubal will be the top free agent available this offseason.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded three prospects for the two-time Cy Young Award winner at the deadline, will almost certainly be in the mix to sign the left-hander.

Skubal posted a 2.61 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 10 regular season starts for the Dodgers before leading them to a Game 1 win in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

After a stellar career with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles may be the 29-year-old's long-term home.

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicts Skubal will re-sign with the Dodgers despite competition from the New York Mets and other big market teams.

"With a price tag expected to push toward $400 million, there is a finite number of teams capable of signing Skubal. The Dodgers are right at the top of that list. The Mets have the money and the need, but another year of irrelevance won't make it any easier to attract elite talent," Reuter wrote.

The Dodgers have a distinct advantage that no other team besides the Tigers can claim.

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Skubal may have grown comfortable in Los Angeles and with his new teammates. Plus, the idea of having a strong chance to win a championship year after year could be hard to turn down.

"The imminent lockout and new CBA are obviously a major unknown, but for now the Dodgers have to be viewed as the favorites to lock up the two-time Cy Young winner," Reuter added.

Unless Skubal has a preferred team in mind that isn't the Dodgers, his free agency won't involve many organizations.