As the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches on Monday, speculation is mounting that the Detroit Tigers' pitcher Tarik Skubal could be a key acquisition for several of the league's top contenders. The California Post's latest MLB Power Rankings indicate that all five of the top-ranked teams could find a use for Skubal to bolster their rosters.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, currently holding the top spot in the rankings, are described as the best team in baseball and clear favorites for a third consecutive title, even without adding Skubal. However, the report suggests they might consider adding him to their collection of star talent. Despite Shohei Ohtani managing a knee injury, the team has seen returns from Edwin Díaz and Kiké Hernández, with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Will Smith also nearing potential comebacks.
Following the Dodgers are the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a more pronounced need for a pitcher like Skubal. While Jacob Misiorowski has recovered from arm fatigue, the rest of the Brewers' rotation is dealing with injuries. The report notes that the Brewers, lacking many individual star hitters, would benefit from acquiring more star pitching power.
The Tampa Bay Rays, ranked third, are also identified as contenders for Skubal. Like the Brewers, they could use an ace-caliber pitcher to enhance their World Series aspirations. However, as a small-market team, they are typically hesitant to trade future assets for rental players. The report points out that unlike the Brewers, the Rays do not have the Dodgers directly in their path to the World Series.
The Atlanta Braves, fourth in the rankings, are considered a dark horse candidate for Skubal. Their depth of young pitching and need for another frontline starter to complement Chris Sale could make them a suitor. The Braves have an eight-game lead over the fading Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East standings.
Rounding out the top five are the Chicago Cubs, who have the most significant need at the top of their rotation among the discussed contenders. The Cubs have historically exercised caution at trade deadlines and might prefer a starting pitcher with controllable years. Nevertheless, they have shown recent consistency, with a 30-20 record through June and July.
Other teams are also seeking reinforcements, though perhaps not at Skubal's caliber. The New York Yankees, sixth, are facing internal challenges with injuries to key players like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger. Their wish list reportedly includes a catcher and a reliever. The Boston Red Sox, at eighth, continue to perform well despite injuries, and a strong deadline could position them as serious World Series threats. The White Sox, also eighth, boast the American League's highest-scoring offense but are actively seeking pitching. The Arizona Diamondbacks, ninth, have surged into the second NL wild-card spot and are expected to add pitching help, potentially including Corbin Burnes.
The report also touches on the AL MVP race, with Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros leading. Alvarez is reportedly on pace to complete a Triple Crown, holding significant leads in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. Other contenders include Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays.