Dodgers Rumors: 3 Blockbuster Trade Packages to Bring Tarik Skubal to Los Angeles

The biggest prize at this year’s trade deadline is Detroit Tigers left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal.

Skubal is no sure thing to get traded, but if he is, he would be the best player dealt and could alter the postseason picture.

Skubal is a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher with multiple years of team control. He’s a leading American League Cy Young award candidate with a record of 10-3, an AL-best 2.41 ERA, and 140 strikeouts across 116 innings of work.

The Tigers are unlikely to trade Skubal unless they get an offer they can’t refuse, but the Dodgers are one of the few teams who have the prospect capital to make that offer — and Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain came up with three potential trade packages to bring Skubal to Los Angeles (you can watch the full video here).

1. Skubal for a Haul

The first offer is just about every top Dodgers prospect heading to Detroit. If it seems like a lot, it’s because it has to be. Skubal is one of the most valuable pitchers in MLB right now, and his price will only be driven up by the Baltimore Orioles, who have interest in Skubal and an even better farm system than L.A.

The Tigers may even decline this offer…

Dodgers Receive: Tarik Skubal (LHP)

Tigers Receive: Josue De Paula (OF), Dalton Rushing (C), River Ryan (RHP), Nick Frasso (RHP), James Outman (OF)

2. Dodgers Eat Money

If the Dodgers don’t want to part with all their top prospects (or can’t convince the Tigers to even accept that deal), they could offer to take on Javier Baez and the rest of his albatross contract. Baez is one of the league’s worst players — he has a -1.5 bWAR and -1.0 fWAR — and opted in to the remaining four years and $98 million on his contract this past offseason. Taking him would be a no-brainer for Los Angeles if Detroit is open to receiving less of a haul to get him off their books. Here’s what one version of that trade could look like.

Dodgers Receive: Tarik Skubal (LHP), Javier Baez (SS)

Tigers Receive: Landon Knack (RHP), Payton Martin (RHP), James Outman (OF)

3. Dodgers Eat Money (Part 2)

This is similar to trade No. 2, but if the Tigers aren’t interested in Outman, the Dodgers could give them two prospects instead.

Dodgers Receive: Tarik Skubal (LHP), Javier Baez (SS)

Tigers Receive: Eduardo Quintero (OF), Landon Knack (RHP), Payton Martin (RHP), Nick Frasso (RHP)

It’s no sure thing that the Tigers would accept any of these proposals, but they should at least make Detroit think. Skubal is headed for free agency in 2027, and if the Tigers don’t believe they’ll contend by then, they could either get a franchise-altering haul or clear nearly $100 million off their books and get a handful of solid prospects.

For full analysis of these blockbuster trade proposals, watch the full video here.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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