The Dodgers already look built for another October run, but that hasn’t stopped the Tarik Skubal noise from circling back around.
Los Angeles has the kind of roster that makes every deadline conversation feel dangerous: a loaded rotation, a deep bullpen, a stacked lineup, star power everywhere you look, and enough experience to know how to finish the job. Even with the best record in baseball, the idea of adding arguably the best pitcher in the game is still sitting right there.
At the All-Star break, the Dodgers are viewed as a favorite if Detroit decides to move the two-time Cy Young winner. And former MLB general manager turned analyst Jim Bowden laid out just how expensive that kind of swing would be.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers acquire Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitchers Emmett Sheehan and River Ryan and outfielder Zyhir Hope,” Bowden said.
He didn’t pretend that was a light ask, either.
“That’s a huge package for a rental, but for the Tigers, they would get two pitchers back they control to improve their rotation. Zyhir Hope is a future All-Star outfielder.”
That’s the kind of proposal that tells you everything about how highly Skubal is valued. The Dodgers have the farm system to make a deal like that possible, and they’re in the kind of win-now mode where big risks are always on the table. Still, Bowden’s price tag is massive for a player who is set to hit free agency after the 2026 season.
And that’s the other layer here: Skubal is headed for the open market at the end of 2026 and will almost certainly go to the highest bidder. Whether Detroit moves him now or keeps him, he’s going to be one of the most coveted names available.
Bowden made the case that if the Dodgers really want to push for a third straight World Championship, this is the sort of move that fits the moment.
“Again, this would be a huge pay. I'm not sure the Dodgers would even trade this much to get Skubal,” Bowden said. “But if the Dodgers really want to win their third World Championship, why not go get yet another starter and put Skubal with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and wait for Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell to get back.
“If that doesn't win a third world Championship, I don't know what would.”
Still, there’s another report pointing in the opposite direction. Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote that the Dodgers are “not in” on the Skubal sweepstakes, at least for now.
“Either way, Skubal needs to go. The real question is where.
The stacked Dodgers, for now at least, are believed 'not in.' And baseball breathes a hopeful Cy of relief over that,”Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote.
So the question hanging over the deadline is simple: do the Dodgers stay quiet, or do they make the kind of blockbuster that changes everything? If they do end up chasing Skubal, Bowden’s version feels like the high end of the market - and probably well above what Los Angeles would actually want to pay. Maybe one pitcher and Hope is closer to the range the Dodgers would prefer.
In Other News...
Tigers Fans Just Got The Trade Rumor They Were Dreading
With the trade deadline approaching, the Braves are already signaling they plan to be busy, and general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made it clear Atlanta expects to be in the market. For Tigers fans, that matters because Detroit ace Tarik Skubal has started to surface in the rumor mill as a possible fit for a contender looking to upgrade its rotation for the stretch run.
CBS Sports and USA Today have both linked Skubal to the conversation, with USA Today pointing to the Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays and Padres among the other clubs in the mix. Nothing has been confirmed, but any real push for Skubal would be the kind of move that changes the entire tenor of Detroits deadline, both in terms of what the Tigers might be asked to give up and what kind of return they could demand. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Just Sent A Stunning Message On Tarik Skubal's Price
The Tigers are already being viewed as a team to watch at the 2026 trade deadline, and Tarik Skubal sits at the center of that conversation. With the left-hander potentially moving before he reaches free agency, Detroit is in position to ask for a return that matches the value of one of the sports premier arms, which is exactly why rival clubs are paying close attention to how the front office handles the situation.
Scott Harris has made it clear the bar is extremely high, and that alone tells you where this is headed. Even with the deadline still in the distance, the Tigers are signaling they will not move Skubal unless the package is substantial enough to reshape the organization, which leaves the rest of the league wondering whether anyone will actually be willing to meet that price. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Harris May Be Near A Risky Tigers Extension Call
The Reds new deal with Chase Burns is the kind of contract that can make front offices around the league stop and take notice, and it gives a useful reference point for teams trying to lock up young pitching before the price climbs any higher. For the Tigers, it arrives at an interesting moment, with Scott Harris still weighing how aggressively to push his roster-building and how much room he has to maneuver before the offseason.
Troy Melton has given Detroit plenty to think about since coming back from injury, showing the kind of performance that can change the conversation fast. The question is whether the Tigers are willing to act now, with payroll constraints in the background and the possibility of structuring an extension in a way that delays the real financial hit until later. [Read more 🡒]