With the offseason approaching, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again being linked to one of baseball’s biggest names. According to MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal could become the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade — and the Dodgers are among the teams expected to make a run.
“Tarik Skubal will be entering his final year prior to free agency, leaving the Tigers in a quandary,” Feinsand wrote. “Trading Skubal would certainly have a negative impact on the Tigers in 2026. But given the type of contract the ace is expected to seek next offseason, president of baseball operations Scott Harris must consider whether he believes he can meet that price to keep Skubal in Detroit, or whether trading the pitcher now for a haul of players/prospects is a better long-term play for the club.”
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Dodgers Among Aggressive Contenders
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Feinsand reported that three contenders — the Dodgers, Phillies, and Padres — “should never be counted out of situations like this one, as their front offices have a history of making big moves.” Each has the prospect capital to get Detroit’s attention, but the Dodgers’ farm system might make them the most dangerous bidder.
“A Dodgers deal would potentially have to include outfielder Josue De Paula, Los Angeles’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 13 prospect in baseball,” Feinsand wrote. “The Dodgers have seven players currently on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list — not to mention an inexpensive, budding star in Roki Sasaki — giving president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman a number of chips to use in a deal if he chooses to make his pitching-rich club even richer.”
A Rare Opportunity
Skubal, who went 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 2025, could command one of the largest trade hauls in recent memory. Whether Detroit decides to cash in or extend him long-term remains to be seen, but the Dodgers’ presence in the discussion reinforces a familiar theme — Los Angeles is always in on elite talent.
If Andrew Friedman chooses to pursue Skubal, the Dodgers could turn an already formidable rotation into an all-time powerhouse.
