During the Winter Meetings in Orlando, FL., rumors swirled regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers trading for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal this offseason.
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Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris only added fuel to the fire by stating there were no “untouchables” on Detroit’s roster. Moreover, the Dodgers are one of few MLB teams that have several prospects and young pitchers to compile a sufficient return package for the Tigers.
However, rumblings of the Dodgers trading for Skubal quickly died down as the Winter Meetings came to an end. While the defending champions may not land the two-time Cy Young winner this winter, there’s a chance the Dodgers could still strike a deal at the trade deadline this summer if Skubal remains in Detroit until then.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers predicts the Dodgers to trade for Skubal, but as a rental in July.
“For several reasons — from the rarity of a three-peat to the potential for a new economic landscape starting in 2027 — the Dodgers will surely push all their chips to the middle of the table in their quest for another title. They can even afford to trade for Skubal as a rental if the move leads them to a third straight championship, whereas just about any other team would need to immediately sign him to a long-term deal in order to justify giving up the prospects it will undoubtedly take to land a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner,” Rogers writes.
“If the Tigers fall out of the race, L.A. simply makes too much sense as a landing spot for Skubal — that is assuming he’s not traded in the coming weeks.”
Skubal, after winning his first Cy Young award in 2024, had an even better season in 2025, sporting an AL-leading 2.21 ERA and striking out a career-high 241 batters. His 0.891 WHIP led the league, and he placed fifth in MVP voting.
His elite performance is expected to continue in 2026, and the Dodgers may be willing to part ways with several players in order to add Skubal to the rotation for another World Series run.
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