Dodgers could acquire Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline to avoid having to face him in playoffs: Report
There’s an obvious villain in Major League Baseball these days, and this time it’s not the New York Yankees.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have become the next version of the Death Star, a remarkable collection of talent built as a result of their financial advantage, front office smarts, and outstanding drafting and development. Did superstar catcher Will Smith go down with a neck injury? Top prospect Dalton Rushing is there to step in and make over 150 plate appearances, generating the second-highest weighted runs (wRC) among all catchers in baseball.
Signed expensive free agent Kyle Tucker, did he get off to a slow start? Andy Pages, who signed for $300,000 as a prospect from Cuba, makes up for it by ranking among the 25 most valuable seasons as an offensive player. Are Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow missing most of the season due to injuries? Unheralded Justin Wrobelski has a 2.69 ERA and has the same wins as Zack Wheeler so far.
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Is high-priced closer Edwin Diaz having arm surgery? Will Klein, picked up from the scrap heap, has a 2.27 ERA. Alex Vesia, acquired in exchange for Dylan Floro, has a 2.35 ERA. Tanner Scott is one of the most dominant relievers in the sport, and former prospect Edgardo Henriquez used his 102mph fastball to a 2.43 ERA and did not allow a hit in the last 30 batters he faced.
Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal (29) pitches against the Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Heading into Thursday, the Dodgers, unsurprisingly, sat atop the NL West and atop the league’s overall standings at 61-33. FanGraphs gives them a 100% chance to not only make the playoffs, but also win their division. They have a 97.4% chance of getting the bye and avoiding the wild card series. And yet another new report suggested their response to this might be to… acquire one of the best pitchers on the planet at the trade deadline.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported this week that the Dodgers’ “best tackle” in the trade would be Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. That same Tarik Skubal is coming off four straight seasons with an ERA of 2.80 or lower and a combination of bat absences and command that have cropped up in the postseason.
“I’m sorry,” Passan wrote. “Did it really take a two-time defending champion of all teams to land by far the best player on the market, featuring the most talented player in the history of the game and a payroll that dwarfs nearly every other team? Maybe not, but there are two facts at play here: The Dodgers have the kind of farm system that Detroit will want to raid, and will adding Skubal to a rotation that includes Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell make them successful? It’s almost indisputable.”
While it’s still a deal that hasn’t been completed yet, Passan said Los Angeles may be motivated to make a bigger move not only to add another superstar, but also to avoid having to face him in a potential playoff run.
“So even if they can narrow the margins a bit like they did at the deadline,” he added, “the opportunity to not only add Skubal to their rotation but also deny them the chance to face him in a crucial game is exciting.”
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Shohei Ohtani pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on May 13, 2026. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
Imagine trading Tarik Skubal as a luxury so he doesn’t go to one of your rivals. And the crazy thing is, a trade would make sense for both parties. Yes, Wrobleski is outstanding and Roki Sasaki is starting for the Dodgers, but it’s unclear whether either of them can be trusted to start a playoff game rather than stepping into the bullpen. Snell and Glasnow are expected to return this year, but there is no guarantee that either will be available and healthy in October due to their long injury history. The Dodgers like to give Ohtani extra rest between starts; This is understandable considering his unique situation, which makes another top starter even more valuable.
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Incredibly, for all its major league talent, L.A. also has one of the best farm systems in baseball. Emil Morales, Eduardo Quintero, James Tibbs III, Mike Sirota, Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, River Ryan… an embarrassment of riches. The Dodgers could deal with their potential outfield depth, move Skubal for two months and into October, and still have a top-5 minor league system.
It’s already a challenge to beat Los Angeles in a five- or seven-game series, but imagine facing Skubal, Yamamoto, Snell, Ohtani and then Skubal again in the NLDS. This dream may soon become a reality for Dodgers fans and a nightmare for opponents.
