Dodgers Favored to Pursue Tarik Skubal as Deadline Looms
Skubal’s post‑arthroscopy recovery and Detroit’s control over his availability will determine whether Los Angeles trades top prospects now or waits for free agency.
Overview
- Major outlets, which named the Dodgers the most frequent suitor on June 12, say Los Angeles is the frontrunner if Detroit makes Tarik Skubal available.
- Skubal had a needle arthroscopy to remove loose elbow bodies and has started throwing, with medical clearance around midseason or the All‑Star break seen as the key gating factor for a trade.
- Some analysts argue the Dodgers might prioritize a short‑term need at second base and pursue Tigers infielder Gleyber Torres as a rental instead of trading premium pitching prospects for Skubal.
- Detroit’s 2026 struggles and Skubal’s impending free agency raise pressure on the Tigers to convert elite short‑term control into prospect capital before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
- If Skubal looks fully healthy in mid to late June, expect offers to intensify and for the deadline dynamic to force a clear decision by both clubs about risk, roster fit, and the price of a potential blockbuster.