The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in a blockbuster trade, according to multiple reports. The deal brings one of the most sought-after pitchers on the trade deadline market to the Dodgers, who are vying for their fourth World Series title in a decade.
Skubal, 29, learned of the trade during the Tigers' game on Saturday. He expressed mixed emotions about leaving Detroit, the team that drafted him in 2018 and developed him into an All-Star pitcher. "I'm excited to be a Dodger," Skubal said after the game. "I'm excited to get down there and meet all those guys and chase three championships in a row."
This acquisition further strengthens a formidable Dodgers roster that already features stars such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Mookie Betts. If healthy, Skubal could join a rotation that includes Ohtani, Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. The Dodgers currently lead Major League Baseball with a 3.36 earned run average from their starting pitchers.
| Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal hugs Jack Flaherty in the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Dodgers, who entered the season with a payroll exceeding $487 million, are in first place in the National League West. They were already considered favorites to win the World Series before adding Skubal, aiming to become the first team to win three consecutive championships since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000.
In exchange for Skubal, the Tigers are expected to receive three minor league prospects: right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith, and outfielder Zyhir Hope. Skubal is under contract for approximately $9.5 million for the remainder of the season and is eligible for free agency after the World Series. He is expected to command a significant contract in the offseason, having already set a record in arbitration with a $32 million salary.
| Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Skubal had expressed a desire to finish the season with the Tigers and compete for a World Series championship, a title that has eluded the franchise since 1984. He reflected on the team's playoff shortcomings in recent seasons, including losses in the division series in 2024 and the previous year. "The failure that I experienced on the mound, I've used that as fuel to try and bring a World Series to the city of Detroit," Skubal said. "It's tough. I love all those guys in there. They're some of my best friends."
The Tigers, who had aimed to contend this season with additions like Framber Valdez and Gleyber Torres, have struggled to maintain consistent performance and are currently 2 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League. Skubal is 7-5 this season with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings pitched. He underwent minimally invasive surgery on May 6 to address a loose body in his pitching elbow but returned to pitch on June 13.