The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly have a strong roster, but Ken Rosenthal suggests they might want to consider acquiring Tarik Skubal, especially since their pitching rotation is currently in flux.
With the MLB trade deadline looming, Rosenthal highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the health of players like Shohei Ohtani and several other Dodgers pitchers as a crucial aspect influencing the team’s strategy. “A lot depends on how they view the health of their rotation,” he mentioned, referencing Ohtani feeling discomfort in his knee after recent practice, which led to the cancellation of a following session.
While Ohtani is anticipated to return to the mound this season, and with pitchers like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow also working on their comeback, the Dodgers could find themselves with sufficient starters come October. Yet, there’s a widespread hope that all injured players will recover fully—if not, it could complicate their ambitious pursuit of a third consecutive World Series title.
This is where Skubal comes into play.
Rosenthal pointed out that the Dodgers are aware of potential salary restrictions in future negotiations, making it imperative not to overlook the opportunity to add Skubal.
Skubal isn’t just some backup plan. The left-hander from the Detroit Tigers has shown exceptional talent, combining strikeout capabilities with the precision needed to anchor a postseason rotation.
Moreover, the Dodgers have a solid pool of prospects. Rosenthal noted that Los Angeles possesses several promising outfield players and could include a controlled major league pitcher like Emmett Sheehan in trade discussions.
However, the Tigers will demand a significant return, especially since Skubal would offer long-term value rather than simply being a rental player. Any trade proposal would likely need to include multiple top-tier prospects and at least one player who could make an immediate impact for Detroit.
This high price tag may limit the feasibility of a trade.
With the expectation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Aki Sasaki, and several injured pitchers returning, if the Dodgers’ rotation remains healthy before the playoffs, committing substantial resources to acquire another pitcher might feel excessive.
But the Dodgers do seem to doubt this ideal scenario. Ohtani’s recent knee issues remind everyone how swiftly pitching situations can change.
Rosenthal didn’t indicate that a trade for Skubal is imminent or that Detroit has made a decision to let him go. Instead, he emphasized that the Dodgers have both the means and the motivation to consider such an acquisition.
Ultimately, though, the Los Angeles front office may judge the asking price as excessive.
It would certainly be a risk to bypass one of the top pitchers potentially on the market.
