The Los Angeles Dodgers have already cemented themselves as the gold standard in Major League Baseball with back-to-back World Series titles. But if they want to move from dominant to dynastic-if they want to be remembered not just as champions but as legends-they might need to make one final, franchise-defining move.
That move? Swinging a blockbuster trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Skubal isn’t just another top-tier arm. He’s a two-time Cy Young winner coming off a season that reads like a video game stat line: 13-6 record, 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts, and a microscopic 0.891 WHIP over 195 innings.
That’s not just dominance-it’s surgical control, elite stuff, and the kind of consistency that front offices dream about. If you're building a rotation to win not just now, but for years to come, Skubal is the kind of arm you anchor it with.
The Tigers, meanwhile, are in a tricky spot. Skubal is entering the final year of his contract, and the odds of him sticking around long-term don’t look great.
There’s a growing belief that Detroit could maximize his value now rather than risk losing him for nothing next winter. And if they do decide to move him, the Dodgers are uniquely positioned to make the kind of offer that gets a deal done.
L.A. has a deep farm system and a collection of MLB-ready talent that could appeal to Detroit. Names like Emmet Sheehan and River Ryan offer immediate pitching help, while bats like Alex Freeland, Zhyir Hope, and Daulton Rushing bring upside for the future. That’s a package that few teams can match-especially if the Dodgers are truly motivated.
And they might be. Because here’s where things get even more interesting: the Dodgers can sweeten the deal by including a proven All-Star like Tyler Glasnow.
Glasnow could step right into the Tigers’ rotation and give them a frontline arm in return, making the trade more palatable from a competitive standpoint. Whether he’s part of the Skubal deal or moved elsewhere to replenish prospect depth, the Dodgers have the flexibility-and the assets-to make it all work.
There’s also a personal angle that could make L.A. an even more attractive destination for Skubal. He grew up in California.
A trade to the Dodgers wouldn’t just be a move to a contender-it’d be a homecoming. And for a player who’s already won individual accolades, the chance to chase multiple rings in his home state might be too good to pass up.
Now imagine this: a rotation featuring Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani (once he’s back on the mound), and Roki Sasaki. That’s not just a dream rotation-that’s a baseball myth brought to life. It’s the kind of staff that could dominate October for years, the kind that forces the rest of the league to play catch-up before the first pitch of the season is even thrown.
The Dodgers have already built a powerhouse. But adding Tarik Skubal? That might be the move that turns this team into a dynasty for the ages.