Teams Rush to Sign Skubal and Sato Before December 1 Deadline
Two major free agents face strict CBA expiration limits, while Washington extends Jacob Young through 2031.
By Giulia Donovan ·
The 2026-2027 offseason has just begun, but three high-profile transactions are already shaping the league's competitive balance.
The New York Post reports that interest in two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is intense. Teams are negotiating with the pitcher, though no immediate agreement is expected. Skubal is poised to sign a contract that may break records for both total value and average annual value. The current record for a pitching contract belongs to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who agreed to a $325 million deal with the Dodgers. The record for average annual value for a pitcher stands at $43.3 million, a figure set by Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with the Mets.
Another deadline looms for Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato. According to the Post, the Dodgers, Mets, Padres, Phillies, and Yankees are all linked to the player. Sato must sign with an MLB team before the collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 1. If he does not sign by then, he will return to the Hanshin Tigers for the 2027 season. Scouts describe Sato as a power hitter with swing-and-miss tendencies and defensive questions at third base. His profile mirrors that of Munetaka Murakami, who hit 35 home runs in 127 games during his rookie campaign this year.
In Washington, the Nationals have locked up center fielder Jacob Young. FanSided reports that the team signed him to a four-year extension worth $23 million. The contract includes an $8 million club option for a fifth year. This deal buys out Young's three remaining arbitration years and one free agency year. It also grants the club an option for a second free agency year, keeping him under team control through 2031.
Young, 27, improved his offensive production this season, particularly in the second half when he batted .301 with a .385 on-base percentage. The extension ends speculation about his availability as a trade candidate. He remains a key part of Washington's long-term roster construction.
