By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-02 09:30:28 | Updated at 2026-08-02 18:15:27
13 hours ago
In a deadline deal that sent shockwaves through baseball Saturday night, the two-time defending-champion Los Angeles Dodgers are adding the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner to their pitching rotation.
As first reported by ESPN, Tarik Skubal is going from the Detroit Tigers to LA in exchange for a bevy of prospects from the Dodgers’ sterling farm system. Sources have told ESPN those prospects include Zyhir Hope, who has been superb at Double-A Tulsa this year, as well as right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith.
The Daily Mail has sought confirmation from both Tigers and Dodgers spokespeople.
The move gives the Dodgers another dominant pitcher on top of LA’s Japanese trio of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the emerging Roki Sasaki, not to mention another former Cy Young winner in Blake Snell.
Both Snell and righty Tyler Glasnow are nearing their returns from elbow surgery and back spasms, respectively.
A dominant 29-year-old southpaw, Skubal is known for his high-90s fastball that he mixes in with a sinker, slider and slurve, all of which are considered strong pitches. And despite undergoing midseason surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, Skubal has remained strong in 2026, posting a 2.79 earned-run average (ERA), while striking out 116 batters and surrendering just 14 walks.
Tarik Skubal is going from the Detroit Tigers to LA in exchange for a bevy of prospects
The acquisition of Skubal gives the Dodgers another dominant pitcher on top of the Japanese trio of Shohei Ohtani (left), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (center) and the emerging Roki Sasaki (right)
Another former Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, is nearing a return to the Dodgers after surgery. On July 24, Snell pitched a rehab start for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets
He recently received a standing ovation in Detroit, where his departure was expected as the Tigers have fallen out of contention in the AL Central.
Even before acquiring Skubal, the first-place Dodgers ranked fifth in the majors with a 3.61 ERA.
It’s unclear when the deal will be finalized but MLB’s trade deadline will arrive on Monday at 6pm EST.
News of the trade was like a punch to the gut for most baseball fans, many of whom already expected the Dodgers to win their third consecutive World Series crown this fall.
‘The Dodgers have ruined baseball,’ one fan remarked on X.
Many others quickly turned their attention to Skubal’s contract situation and MLB’s looming labor dispute. Skubal will become a free agent after the season, and if the Dodgers hope to sign him to a long-term extension, the Club’s current $311 million payroll could grow significantly in 2027.
And for thriftier clubs hoping to avoid free-agent bidding wars with the spend-happy Dodgers, a work stoppage could be their only option.
As one fan put it: ‘Thank you to the Dodgers for the Great MLB Lockout of 2027.'
