The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a strong position to acquire Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal before the upcoming MLB trade deadline, according to ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan.
Passan indicated that the only scenario preventing the trade would be an “offensive” asking price from the Tigers that deters the Dodgers. He noted on the “Baseball-Bar-B-Cast” podcast that the Dodgers, despite their financial capabilities, are adept at talent development, trades, and player identification.
"The answer should almost be nothing; there’s nothing that should get in the way of the Dodgers doing this," Passan stated. He contrasted the Dodgers' situation with that of teams like the Brewers and Rays, suggesting that for the latter, the risks of acquiring players at the deadline can be as significant as the potential rewards. The Dodgers, he added, have the luxury of a deep roster and farm system, allowing them to be more aggressive in trades.
The Dodgers have a history of successful trades and talent evaluation. In a notable move at last year's deadline, they acquired outfielders James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard from the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Dustin May. Both Tibbs and Ehrhard are now recognized as top prospects within the Dodgers' system, which Baseball America ranks as the third-best overall. Tibbs has shown promise with a .283 batting average, 21 home runs, and 73 RBIs. Ehrhard has also impressed in Triple-A, improving his batting average to .294 this season with over 100 hits, 15 home runs, and 69 RBIs.
Historically, the Dodgers have been a consistently strong organization, reaching the NLCS multiple times between 2013 and 2018, and winning the World Series in 2020. Their acquisition of Shohei Ohtani in 2023 further solidified their status as a baseball superpower.