The left-hander Tarik Skubal has become one of the most sought-after names in baseball. At 28 years of age, the Detroit Tigers starter is coming off a spectacular season with 13 wins, a 2.21 ERA and absolute dominance on the mound
His contract expires in 2026, which forces Detroit to decide whether to extend him, trade him or wait until the next deadline. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers have already shown interest, and the price to acquire him could be historic.
A generational talent in his prime
Skubal is considered among the three best pitchers in MLB right now. His consistency, control and ability to dominate any lineup has made him a strong candidate to win the American League Cy Young. In fact, he could become the first pitcher to win the award in consecutive years since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000.
The precedent: the Corbin Burnes case
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the trade of Corbin Burnes between the Brewers and the Orioles in 2024 serves as a reference. In that trade, Milwaukee received DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, two Top 100 prospects and a round A selection in the Draft. Several executives believe that Detroit should receive even more for Skubal, given his age, performance and potential.
The price for the Dodgers
For the Dodgers to get Skubal, they would have to include their number one prospect, Josue De Paula, currently ranked number 13 in the MLB Pipeline rankings. In addition, Los Angeles has seven players in the Top 100, including Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, which gives them room to negotiate. However, losing De Paula would be a blow to the future of the organization.
A rotation that scares
If the trade goes through, Skubal would join a rotation that already includes Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This group could become one of the most dominant rotations in MLB history, with depth, experience and international talent.
Is it worth the sacrifice?
For the Dodgers, the dilemma is clear: should they gamble on the present and go for another title, or protect their core of young prospects? With the Trade Deadline approaching, Andrew Friedman’s decision could define the franchise’s immediate future and shift the balance of power in Major League Baseball.
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