BREAKING: Dodgers ‘Loaded’ Trade Package Ready for $115 Million Detroit Tigers Star

Depending on who you ask, the MLB trade deadline could either be uneventful or chaotic, especially if the Tigers’ ace lefty, Tarik Skubal, is put up for bidding. If that happens, the Dodgers will be aggressive in their pursuit to lead the pack.

According to Tom Verducci of SI.com, while the Tigers aren’t actively shopping Skubal yet, both the Dodgers and the Orioles have expressed interest.

“Sources from the Dodgers and Orioles confirmed they are interested in assembling packages with top prospects for Skubal,” Verducci reported. “There is no indication yet whether Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris will move Skubal, but both Los Angeles and Baltimore have the prospect depth to make the trade discussions intriguing.”

Before the season, the Orioles had the top-rated farm system, with the Dodgers ranked eighth according to MLB.com. Baseball America also ranked the Orioles first and the Dodgers tenth.

Dodgers Trade Deadline More Urgent With Injuries

Naturally, it’s advantageous that the free-spending Dodgers can be more flexible with their prospect deals compared to the Orioles. Both teams are vying for a postseason spot this year, with aspirations for the World Series. The Dodgers invested nearly $1 billion in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani during the offseason to boost their World Series chances.

However, the Dodgers have been plagued by numerous injuries, especially within their pitching staff, threatening their postseason prospects. Acquiring Skubal would strengthen a rotation currently relying on the few healthy pitchers, Gavin Stone and James Paxton.

Skubal, who is under team control for two more years, has been impressive this season (7-3, leading the league with a 2.41 ERA, 140 strikeouts in 116 innings), making the Tigers hesitant to trade him. He was previously projected to be worth a seven-year, $115 million extension, but his exceptional performance this season has likely increased his value.

One executive suggested to Verducci that the Tigers should consider trading Skubal while his value is high.

“They’re not in contention this year or probably next year,” a rival talent evaluator said. “So, you only have a one-year window with Skubal. One year? That’s why it’s smart to see what you can get now when he can impact three postseasons. After this deadline, his price drops.”

Tarik Skubal Bounced Back From Shoulder Surgery

Perhaps there is hope for Dodgers trade enthusiasts.

Entering the season, Skubal was a bit of a gamble. Over the past three years, he has gradually proven himself to be a top-tier lefty starter, despite dealing with injuries. In 2022, he posted a 7-8 record with a 3.52 ERA in 21 starts before suffering a torn flexor tendon that required surgery. This was his second major surgery, having previously undergone Tommy John surgery in college, which contributed to his fall to the ninth round in the 2018 MLB draft.

His last outing was on August 1, 2022. After nearly a year of rehabilitation, he returned to the majors on July 4, 2023, and excelled, finishing the season with a 7-3 record, a 2.80 ERA, and 102 strikeouts in 80.1 innings.

Skubal has been in top form since then, attracting interest from leading teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Orioles as the MLB trade deadline approaches. He shared his thoughts on the shoulder surgery and the perspective it gave him in an interview with The Athletic:

“It was more eye-opening than Tommy John was for me because I was throwing the ball well, and you think, ‘OK, I can keep doing this. I feel good.’ And then all of a sudden, my season is over, and it was very abrupt and I didn’t really understand what all happened. That’s what probably kickstarted looking out and trying to figure out what’s going on and how to manage my body and reinvest into it.”