The Los Angeles Dodgers, currently leading Major League Baseball with the best record and a significant lead in the National League West, are reportedly being considered a prime candidate to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before the MLB trade deadline.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stated on the show 'Get Up' that if Skubal were to be traded, the Dodgers would be the most logical team to pursue him, citing their "incentive and ability" to make such a move. This potential acquisition comes as the Dodgers aim for a third consecutive World Series title.
Despite already boasting a strong rotation including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and rookie Justin Wrobleski, the Dodgers continue to face uncertainties with pitchers Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow managing injury recovery. The team's depth is seen as crucial for a deep playoff run, potentially making Skubal an attractive addition.
Skubal, who experienced a brief stint on the injured list in early May due to arthroscopic elbow surgery, has maintained an effective season. He holds a 3.09 earned run average with 89 strikeouts against only 11 walks and a 0.952 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) in 75 2/3 innings pitched. These numbers represent a slight dip from his own high standards but are still strong performance metrics.
However, Skubal has reportedly communicated to friends a strong desire to remain with the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of the season, believing in the team's potential for a World Series run. Without a no-trade clause in his contract, his wishes are contingent on the Tigers' perspective on their own competitive outlook and future decisions.
The Tigers organization must weigh whether to view their team as a contender in a competitive AL Central or to consider Skubal a valuable trade asset for a significant haul of prospects. If Detroit opts to make Skubal available, rival executives reportedly believe the Dodgers are heavily interested, according to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. While individuals close to the Dodgers organization suggest they are not in a desperate situation given Snell and Glasnow's progression, their deep pockets, prospect depth, and win-now mentality could lead them to pursue a significant acquisition to bolster their championship aspirations.
If the Tigers decide to become sellers at the deadline, the possibility of Skubal being traded, potentially to the Dodgers, could materialize regardless of his personal preference or the desires of other teams to keep him out of Los Angeles's hands.