For causes unknown (it’s cash, it’s all the time cash), there’s a non-zero likelihood Tarik Skubal is traded by the Detroit Tigers this winter. Being the very best pitcher in baseball, and seeing what the Dodgers’ beginning pitching did this postseason, I believed it’d be enjoyable to think about a world during which they traded for the southpaw.
Skubal, 29, is coming off a second consecutive American League Cy Younger award with the Tigers. He posted a 2.21 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 27.8 Ok-BB% and a 6.6 fWAR. He’s going into his closing yr of group management earlier than he assuredly lands a deal that bests Zack Wheeler‘s $42 million common annual worth. The Scott Boras shopper is in line for one of many greatest paydays a pitcher has ever acquired.
The good factor for the Tigers to do is to pay him what he’s value. The late Mike Illich would. His son, Christopher, is hesitant. For a franchise that has had spurts of official rivalry, dropping Skubal for a draft choose after the season or an underwhelming commerce bundle, is the worst factor Detroit might do. In fact, the almighty greenback tends to reign supreme, and if the billionaire proprietor of the Tigers can discover a couple of hundred million bucks to pay his generational lefty, then he doesn’t should have him. The fan base, however, does should have him. It’d be a disgrace if Skubal is traded.
Having mentioned that, the Dodgers could not look like essentially the most logical touchdown spot, aside from their baseball-ruining methods.
The Dodgers’ rotation is trying fairly full — if such a factor could be mentioned — in the meanwhile. From Shohei Ohtani to Blake Snell to Tyler Glasnow to Emmet Sheehan to Roki Sasaki to World Collection MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, there doesn’t look like a lot “room” for Skubal. Including Skubal would positively be an “embarrassment of riches” scenario, however it will concerned fairly a couple of transferring components. If something, that makes a deal extra possible than it might seem, as we all know Andrew Friedman is all the time down for complicated offers.
Let’s break this factor down.
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The Tigers had been one sport away from the 2025 ALCS. In the event that they transfer Skubal, it isn’t going to be for 3-5 A-ball prospects, irrespective of how extremely ranked or regarded they’re. They nonetheless anticipate to compete in a winnable AL Central that might see the Guardians transfer Steven Kwan and the Twins a nasty month from transferring Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan. The purpose must be younger expertise, long-term expertise and guys who can hold them aggressive. A deal for Skubal by any group goes to require gamers off the MLB roster, and the Dodgers are not any exception. So, which gamers the Dodgers might/would realistically transfer might curiosity the Tigers?
Pitchers
RHP Tyler Glasnow
LHP Jackson Ferris
RHP River Ryan
LHP Adam Serwinowski
RHP Emmet Sheehan
RHP Gavin Stone
LHP Justin Wrobleski
Place Gamers
IF Alex Freeland
OF Josue De Paula
OF Zach Ehrhard
OF Zyhir Hope
OF Andy Pages
OF Mike Sirota
OF/1B James Tibbs III
All these guys are both on the MLB roster or performed at Double-A or larger sooner or later in 2025.
Among the many pitchers, Glasnow has an enormous monetary price ticket, however getting him to, in impact, exchange Skubal might assist to mitigate the injury. Then once more, Glasnow in all probability isn’t as helpful to different groups as he’s to the Dodgers. Sheehan confirmed out final season and confirmed versatility by throwing nicely (at occasions) out of the bullpen. Identical goes for Wrobleski (extra out of the bullpen than the rotation). Ryan and Stone are getting back from harm. Ryan has the upper ceiling, whereas Stone has the upper ground. Ferris and Serwinowski can be in play for 2027 and past.
The place gamers are largely outfielders, seeing as that’s the place the Dodgers have some surplus on the subject of the minors. I’m unsure they create an excellent greater gap within the outfield by buying and selling Pages, but when he’s in demand for the sport’s greatest pitcher, you must take into account together with him. Freeland might take somewhat strain off outdated good friend Zach McKinstry, however with Gleyber Torres coming again on the qualifying supply, Freeland won’t make as a lot sense. De Paula can be the largest prize among the many place gamers, however I’m unsure the Dodgers embody him for one assured yr of Skubal. Hope looks like a extra possible inclusion — and extra possible than both Ehrhard, Sirota or Tibbs III. With Dillon Dingler and Jake Rogers within the fold, the Tigers in all probability wouldn’t be overly thinking about Dalton Dashing.
The Tigers don’t look like incentivized to commerce him proper now, so to make them accomplish that earlier than the season it’ll find yourself hurting, and certainly it will.
The Proposal
To DET: Zyhir Hope, Emmet Sheehan, River Ryan, Joendry Vargas, Justin Wrobleski
To LA: Tarik Skubal, Eduardo Valencia
Why it really works for Detroit: Sheehan and Ryan (or Stone, if the Tigers favor) go into Detroit’s rotation in an try to switch Skubal’s manufacturing. With Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Troy Melton, the Tigers might do worse for a 5-man rotation. Additionally they get so as to add Wrobleski to the bullpen. He had the Fifth-best FIP amongst all MLB relievers (minimal 50 IP) in 2025, in addition to a Prime 15 mark in Ok-BB% (24.6). He might be a weapon out of the bullpen that’s seeking to exchange traded deadline pickup Kyle Finnegan (who isn’t anticipated again). Hope additionally offers them a premium outfield prospect to go along with the sport’s greatest outfield prospect in Max Clark. Hope was ranked the Dodgers’ 2nd-best prospect total by Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs, and 4th-best by Baseball America. Additionally, the Tigers wouldn’t add payroll, save the projected $17.8 million they’d should pay Skubal in his closing yr of arbitration, and will use that cash to land a hitter (Alex Bregman?) they might completely use. They’d additionally land a lottery ticket in former high worldwide signee Vargas.
Why it really works for LA: Undecided what number of extra occasions I can say “greatest pitcher in baseball,” however right here we go. They’d land the very best pitcher in baseball whereas not considerably damaging their MLB roster or farm system. The Tigers might insist on Glasnow as a substitute of Ryan, which might be high quality. Some cash may want to vary fingers, nevertheless it might occur. In the event that they insist on somebody like Pages, nicely, maybe the Dodgers would discover a approach to make it occur. It looks like the breaking level can be De Paula, however he additionally wouldn’t be untouchable on this scenario.
- Skubal
- Yamamoto
- Snell
- Ohtani
- Glasnow
- Sasaki
That appears extremely unfair, and but, not out of the realm of chance. Having Skubal and Snell (and Glasnow?) capable of go on common relaxation would, in concept, assist the Dodgers handle Ohtani, Sasaki and Yamamoto’s workloads. How that will occur is one other query and above my paygrade.
Skubal can be a welcome addition and mitigate the Dodgers’ obvious want so as to add one other huge cash nearer this winter. Shedding Sheehan would sting a bit, however even for only one yr of Skubal — going for a 3-peat — he can be a suitable loss. Valencia is a catcher who would give the Dodgers somewhat depth on the place within the higher minors that they’re, surprisingly, missing.
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When Mookie Betts was obtainable, the Dodgers went out and acquired him. When Freddie Freeman was a free agent, they went out and acquired him. When Ohtani was a free agent, they went out and acquired him. The purpose being, the Dodgers pursue elite expertise, when the chance arises. Exterior of Paul Skenes, there won’t be a extra interesting beginning pitcher so as to add to an already full rotation. It additionally wouldn’t again them right into a nook on the subject of including a late-inning, high-priced reliever.
Sure, beginning pitching isn’t a necessity for the Dodgers this winter after spending handsomely on starters the final two offseasons. But when Skubal is absolutely going to be traded, the Dodgers must be .
