The subject of the biggest trade of the 2026 deadline has spoken after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers
Pitcher Tarik Skubal, the reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young winner, was spotted in Dodger gear during the team’s loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, but it wasn’t until Monday he addressed the media.
Tarik Skubal addresses change in teams
Skubal expressed excitement ahead of his first start, scheduled for Tuesday in the second game against the Cubs, though he acknowledged how hard it was to leave the Detroit Tigers, the only organization he’s ever played for.
“I spent eight years with the Detroit Tigers,” he said. “That place will always be special to me no matter what, but in the same breath, I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to compete with these guys. When you watch them from across the way, you have a lot of respect because they play the game the right way. The entire focus for this organization is winning championships and that’s my focus.”
He also defended the Dodgers against critics who claim they’re ruining baseball by spending big.
“Every team could trade for me,” he said, as reported by Jesse Rogers of ESPN. “I don’t sympathize with people that blame the Dodgers for anything they’ve done. It’s a winning org…I really don’t sympathize with people that are complaining because the Dodgers do all the right things.”
What does Tarik Skubal bring to the Dodgers?
Though Skubal missed some time earlier this season to have loose bodies removed from his elbow, he’s been solid on the mound, with a 2.79 ERA and WHIP of 0.910.
As he referenced in that initial presser, Skubal knows he’s with the Dodgers in a three-peat or bust season.
With those high hopes, though, have come some injuries that could derail the Dodgers’ title chances.
Three starting pitchers are in various stages of their injury recovery — Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani — and adding another solid arm amid that uncertainty ahead of the playoffs reduces the damage should one or more of those three not be able to pitch in October.
It also presents a terrifying prospect for playoff opponents, who could face a four-man rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Skubal, and two of the three of Glasnow, Snell and Ohtani.
It also means All-Star Justin Wrobleski and the rapidly improving Roki Sasaki could serve as long relievers from the bullpen.
Add in the recent return of closer Edwin Diaz and there’s no shortage of arm talent for the Dodgers’ run at history.
One Response
All good EXCEPT- they have a rapidly declining offense
Mookie/Tucker/ even Teoscar all look really weak at bat- poor defensive catcher
Other issues starting to unfold as well