Los Angeles Dodgers players reacted with enthusiasm on Sunday to the team's acquisition of pitcher Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner. The trade, which occurred Saturday night, was seen by many as a testament to the organization's dedication to maintaining its high standards.

Miguel Rojas, speaking on Sunday, emphasized that the Dodgers' success, including their recent dynasty status, has been built on sacrifice from both players and the front office. "I really appreciate the front office and ownership that we have because they really committed the same way that we commit every single day to put our body on the line," Rojas said. "It’s not just the players doing anything that they can to put themselves out there and play every single day, regardless of what it’s gonna look like in the future. The front office is doing the same thing, and not being comfortable with just winning one or two championships."

Mookie Betts, who joined the Dodgers in 2020, noted the consistency of such moves. "We want to win," Betts stated. "That was the whole point of when I signed here in 2020. This is what they said they were going to do, and they’ve stuck to their word."

Freddie Freeman echoed this sentiment, describing the acquisition of Skubal, whom he called "the best player on the trade market," as "pretty amazing." He added, "It’s fun to be part of an organization that tries to win every single year."

Edwin Díaz, a more recent addition to the team, expressed that he had come to expect such moves from the Dodgers. "The Dodgers always do something to get better," he said. "So as a player, I think I was expecting that."

Kiké Hernández offered a simple, cheerful "Yay!" when asked about Skubal's arrival.

The news of the trade broke on Saturday night as many players were leaving the stadium. Freeman recounted learning about the deal from his wife, Chelsea, while driving home, while Betts saw his phone light up with notifications.

Despite the front office's recent downplaying of their pursuit of a left-handed ace, the players expressed that the acquisition of Skubal provided a significant boost. Freeman remarked that even with the potential return of injured players like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Will Smith, acquiring Skubal "gives us a great chance to win another championship."

Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, cited the clubhouse culture as a key factor in pursuing Skubal. "When you walk in this clubhouse before the game, every guy is doing something to help us win a game that night. And that level of commitment I think is rare, and I think is unusual," Friedman said. "For us, it’s about supporting that, backing that up as much as we can."

For Freeman, the impact of another significant acquisition was clear. "It’s special to be part of," he said.