Tarik Skubal is the top free agent available this offseason, and where he signs could dictate how the rest of the market plays out.
Plenty of teams will inquire about Skubal, but he is expected to sign a record-breaking contract that only a few teams may be able to afford. On top of that, he has preferences that could knock some teams out of the running.
"I've heard he prefers the West Coast," said MLB insider Jim Bowden on GM Territory on Sunday. "You would think (Los Angeles) Dodgers, (San Diego) Padres, (Los Angeles) Angels or maybe the (Arizona) Diamondbacks."
Bowden made a point to note that he is not sure how much his coastal preference will play into his final decision. Specifically, he mentioned the possibility of Steve Cohen and the New York Mets making him an offer that blows the other offers out of the water, as they did for Juan Soto.
Skubal's free agency comes at a particularly unique time. The landscape of MLB could change drastically depending on what happens with the next collective bargaining agreement. The implementation of a salary cap could change how teams pursue free agents like Skubal.
However, at the same time, there are some new ownership groups on the West Coast who could make a play for Skubal, adding to the list of usual suspects.
Regardless, Skubal is expected to sign before a potential lockout, and he is expected to make himself the richest pitcher in the game.