Rethinking the Dodgers’ Trade Strategy
Normally, I’d be all in on pursuing a player like Tarik Skubal. It just makes sense, right? Pay the ransom and shake things up in baseball, especially with the trade deadline looming on August 3rd.
Having a real chance at winning the World Series is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Winning a third consecutive championship? That’s even more special. So, any championship contender should pounce on the opportunity to get a pitcher of Skubal’s caliber.
But here’s the twist: the Dodgers aren’t your average contenders. They’ve got a unique positioning, even as two-time defending champions. I mean, they’ve got the talent to win without adding Skubal into the mix.
By October, their starting rotation could be stacked with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Even without Skubal, that’s a powerhouse rotation. Let’s face it, whoever picks him up will have a leg up—Skubal is undoubtedly a great player, winning two Cy Young Awards with the Tigers.
The financial future is bright for him—he’s likely looking at a massive contract when the lockout, or whenever that may happen, ends. But this complicates the Dodgers’ potential trade talks. If he’s on the brink of signing a record deal, what can the Dodgers reasonably expect from him?
Imagine if they try to slide him into the bullpen for a couple of games, maybe even put him out on short rest like they did with Ohtani last October—it could feel like a bit of a disservice to Skubal. He’s got a chance to build some amazing wealth for his family, and it feels wrong to risk that.
For the Dodgers, this situation could become tricky. They’ve built a reputation as a destination not just because of their wallets but also due to their treatment of players. If they were to acquire Skubal without losing any of their existing starters, it might create some awkwardness in the rotation. Sure, they could have worse problems, but is it worth giving up a promising prospect like Josue de Paula?
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, was straightforward about the team’s philosophy: “We’ve always said that our goal for July is not to be forced to buy. If it’s outside the deadline, the prices are going to be sky-high.”
Whether the Dodgers find themselves cornered into making a trade will hinge on the health of their injured players. Reliever Evan Phillips is back after a year away from the field. Closer Edwin Diaz is gearing up to throw to batters again, and Snell should join him soon.
Glasnow and catcher Will Smith are still recovering, but Friedman seems optimistic about their return this season. “As July unfolds, we’ll learn more about who’s coming back,” he mentioned. “We’re in a good spot—we don’t see an urgent need based on how things are shaping up.”
With their offense leading the majors in OPS and Mookie Betts shining like an All-Star recently, the bullpen has exceeded expectations without Diaz. If Snell and Glasnow come back, the rotation will be just as solid as it was last year.
If a good deal comes along, great! But if not, the Dodgers seem set to navigate the postseason with their current lineup. In the end, perhaps it’s about finding balance and knowing when to strike.
