The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in a major trade deadline move. The deal, finalized Saturday night, brings one of the most sought-after pitchers in baseball to a Dodgers team already considered a World Series favorite.
Skubal, who received the news during the Tigers' 8-6 victory over the Athletics, expressed a mix of emotions about leaving the organization that drafted him in 2018. "I’m excited to be a Dodger," he said. "I’m excited to get down there and meet all those guys and chase three championships in a row."
He joins a high-priced Dodgers roster that already features stars such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Mookie Betts. With Skubal's addition, the Dodgers' starting rotation could potentially include Ohtani, Yamamoto, fellow Cy Young winner Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. The team currently leads Major League Baseball with a 3.36 earned run average from its starting pitchers.
The Dodgers, who lead the National League West, were already strong contenders for a third consecutive World Series title before the acquisition. Their opening-day payroll for the season was reported at $323.3 million, with an additional $163.7 million in taxes, totaling $487.1 million.
In exchange for Skubal, the Tigers will receive three minor league prospects: right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith, and outfielder Zyhir Hope, according to ESPN. Skubal is expected to command a significant contract in the offseason as he is eligible for free agency after the World Series.
Skubal, 29, had previously expressed a preference to finish the season with the Tigers, aiming to compete for a World Series championship that has eluded the franchise since 1984. He acknowledged the difficulty of leaving Detroit, stating, "It’s tough. I love all those guys in there. They’re some of my best friends."
Detroit had aimed to contend this season, notably signing pitcher Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract and retaining infielder Gleyber Torres on a $22 million deal. However, the Tigers struggled early in the season and are currently 2 1/2 games out of the final American League wild-card spot.
"It’s crazy. Going into the season, this isn’t what I planned on doing," Skubal remarked. "But circumstances change, situations change, and I’m very appreciative of everything the Tigers have done for me."
The Tigers had a strong performance in June and July, re-entering playoff contention with Skubal anchoring the rotation alongside All-Stars like Riley Greene. However, the team lost ground in recent games, dropping four of their last five at home.
Skubal is 7-5 this season with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings pitched. Over seven seasons, all with Detroit, he has a career record of 61-42 with a 3.04 ERA. In two postseason appearances, Skubal holds a 2-1 record with a 2.04 ERA across six starts. He underwent minimally invasive surgery on May 6 to address a loose body in his pitching elbow, returning to the mound on June 13.