A late-night blockbuster sent Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the ripple effects could reach Washington.
The two-time AL Cy Young winner was moved Saturday night in a deal that brought Detroit two top-100 prospects - outfielder Zyhir Hope, ranked No. 25, and right-handed pitcher River Ryan, ranked No. 68 - along with another prospect, right-handed pitcher Brady Smith. Skubal had long been viewed as a Dodgers target, but the size of the return still sent a jolt through the league.
For the Nationals, the biggest question is what this means for Foster Griffin.
With Skubal now off the board, teams that were chasing rotation help have to pivot, and Griffin could climb higher on a lot of wish lists. Arizona, Atlanta, Chicago, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and even Philadelphia were all reported to be looking at the starting pitching market.
The Braves already added left-hander Bailey Falter, but his 13.97 ERA across five appearances this season leaves plenty of room for Atlanta to keep shopping. Falter also might wind up in the bullpen.
That opens the door for Griffin to draw serious interest. The Diamondbacks, Cubs, Brewers and Rays are all still in the market for a starter, and Griffin’s 3.06 ERA through 22 starts makes him an attractive fit, especially given his salary. If those clubs get aggressive, Washington could find itself in a bidding war for the 2026 All-Star.
There’s also another side to this: the Skubal return may have reset expectations downward. Around the game, people were surprised by how little the Dodgers surrendered, and that could affect how clubs value the rest of the arms available.
Hope is a strong headliner - he’s 21, with 23 home runs, 87 RBIs and a .293/.369/.530 slash line in 94 Double-A games this season - but Ryan is 27, has already had Tommy John surgery, owns just four big league starts, and has a 4.46 ERA over eight Triple-A starts this year. The third prospect isn’t in the top 100, and Los Angeles kept its four best minor leaguers.
That matters for Washington because there were already rumblings that the Nationals were trying to work out an extension with Griffin. At the same time, the club was still said to be open to trading him if an offer beat the value of keeping him.
Whether the Skubal deal changes that calculus remains unclear. What is clear is that the biggest pitching domino has now fallen, and Griffin’s market is about to be measured against it.
In Other News...
Red Sox Eye One More Deadline Move To Fix A Lingering Problem
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Luis Garcia Jr. is the latest Washington name drawing attention, and his strong season has only added to the appeal if the Red Sox decide to push again. Any talks would come with real moving parts, with names such as Jarren Duran or Patrick Sandoval floated as possible centerpieces, but nothing has been finalized yet as both sides weigh whether this is the kind of upgrade worth making late in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Just Made A Surprising Bet On Their Pitching Future
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Luis Garcia Jr. had been one of Washingtons more productive bats this season, so parting with him was no small call. But the return fits the organizations broader timeline, with Jack Cebert, Yovanny Cruz, Ben Grable and Jake Bird giving the Nationals a mix of pitchers at different stages of readiness and potential roles, the kind of bet teams make when they think the next wave on the mound matters more than the lineup today. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Still Have A Deadline Problem They May Finally Have To Pay For
The hours leading into the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline have already forced several clubs into hard choices, and Washington is among the teams still weighing how far to go. The Nationals have been a part of a broader market that includes Detroit trying to stay competitive after moving Tarik Skubal, the Angels continuing to shuffle pieces, and Texas looking for answers after a rough stretch, but Washingtons own decisions remain especially relevant as the front office sorts through what can still be done with the roster it has.
One name drawing attention is CJ Abrams, who is also in the middle of a career year and has already set a new personal best with 28 home runs. With the deadline clock running down, the Nationals are in that uncomfortable spot where interest around their players is real, the market is moving, and the next step could reshape the infield picture as much as any move they have made so far. [Read more 🡒]