The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the top starting rotations in MLB heading into the 2026 season. However, if they want a shot at a three-peat, the front office could look to bolster it, which is why the Dodgers are one of the teams linked to Detroit Tigers‘ Tarik Skubal.
With Skubal entering the final year of his contract, Detroit have a significant decision to make: Whether to pay their star pitcher or cash in on him. Nonetheless, for now, the Tigers appear to be only listening, but a team might tempt them into pulling the trigger on a deal.
On December 10, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Tigers “were intrigued by the Dodgers’ potential package of prospects,” leading to the rumors that the reigning World Series champions could be making a big splash after signing former New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
During a December 15 appearance on “Dodgers Territory,” The Athletic’s Katie Woo shared her take as to why Los Angeles are linked to Skubal and why a potential deal makes sense.
“I think the Dodgers have well-established that they’re in for basically anything,” Woo said. “I think why we keep hearing the Tigers and the Dodgers connected for Skubal rumors is because Los Angeles is simply one of the only teams that can pull off a trade if they want to. The Dodgers, as we’ve seen, will go out and do things simply because they can.”
The Dodgers Have Prospects and Money for Tarik Skubal
Moreover, Woo stated that the Dodgers have the prospect capital and the ability to pay Skubal what he’ll command next year.
“When you’re looking at the prospect capital required to trade for Skubal, who has just one year remaining of control before he’s a free agent, the Dodgers, they have the farm system depth. And that matters because they also have plenty of depth in their starting rotation. Not many organizations right now can afford to trade away from their starting pitching depth. The Dodgers, they can.
“Then you’re looking at what money it would take to keep him, because this is my speculation. Any team that trades for Tarik Skubal and is going to give up that much of a prospect capital should extend him. Well, I think we also established from Dodgers ownership that spending money is not necessarily a big deal.
“So the Dodgers also have the resources to extend them. I think when there’s smoke, there’s not always fire. But here, this is something worth watching again, because the Dodgers are one of the only teams that can actually put off this deal if the Tigers do indeed attempt to trade Skubal.”
Will the Tigers Trade Tarik Skubal?
With speculation swirling about a possible Mets and Dodgers pursuit of the Tigers’ ace, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden offered an update on what he has been hearing regarding Skubal.
“What I’ve been told by opposing GMs is the Tigers have fielded offers for Skubal, and the asking price is just ridiculous and absurd, which it should be for the guy who’s won the Cy Young the last two years,” Bowden said on the December 12 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.”
“The Tigers are at least doing their due diligence to see what they can get for Skubal… Based on all my conversations with everybody involved, I think the Tigers are going to hold on to him and see how the first half of the season goes.
“If they get to July and have a chance to win, they keep him and then try to sign him in free agency. If they get to July and they’re out of it, they probably will trade the pitcher. This drama and the rumors around him aren’t going to stop at least until the July 31 trade deadline, but don’t expect him to be traded this winter.”
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