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Dodgers Notes: LA Loses 8 Players, Tarik Skubal Free Agency Update, Major Rule 5 Decisions Loom

Catch up on all the latest Dodgers news and notes.
Gabe Smallson|
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) winds up in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) winds up in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Major League Baseball's offseason officially began on Thursday, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lost eight players to free agency as a result. All but one of the free agents are from the pitching side as LA will look to retool its roster in what should be another exciting offseason

One of the aforementioned free agents is two-time Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal. After the Dodgers traded for the superstar with an expiring contract this past trade deadline, the hope was — and likely still is — to sign him long term.

A team insider, however, recently speculated that Skubal will only sign under one condition. The stipulation she pitched relates to the structure of All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker's four-year, $240 million deal that he inked last offseason.

There were also a few off-the-field aspects that were discussed as well, namely Dodgers principal owner Mark Walker and his abrupt selling of his stake in the Los Angeles Lakers just 14 months after purchase, the sale of his minority stake in the Chelsea Football Club, and reportedly, trying to let Charter Communications out of its SportsNet LA contract.

Finally, another exciting aspect of MLB free agency includes the Rule 5 Draft. For players signed at 18 years old or younger, they must be added to the 40-man roster after five seasons (or four if signed at 19 or younger).

If they are not added to the roster, they become part of the pool that teams who do not yet have a complete 40-man roster get to draft. The catch is that the drafted players' team must pay $100,000 to the original team, and the players must be assigned directly to the 26-man roster.

If for some reason the Rule 5 player is removed from the team's 26-man roster, they first must be offered to the previous team for $50,000. Uf they are still unwanted, can then be outrighted to a minor league affiliate.

Here’s all the latest Dodgers news and stories (click the headline for the full article):

Dodgers Officially Lose 8 Players to Free Agency

Dodgers Insider Speculates LA Will Only Sign Tarik Skubal Under One Condition

5 Dodgers Facing Critical Rule 5 Decisions

The First Move the Dodgers Front Office Must Make This Offseason

Dodgers All-Star Free Agent Pitcher Projected to Sign 4-Year, $70 Million Deal

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Gabe Smallson
GABE SMALLSON

Gabe Smallson is a sportswriter based in Los Angeles with a focus in sports and entertainment content. Gabe has previously worked at Newsweek and Dodgers Nation. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 2020 and received his Masters of Science at the University of Southern California in 2025.

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