A two-time reigning Cy Young Award-winning pitcher has just been traded – and he’s going to the two-time defending champions.
The Detroit Tigers have sent left-hander Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to multiple reports. In exchange, Detroit will get three prospects – outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith.
Skubal was by far the best player on the trade block and the biggest potential difference-maker available. He will be a free agent this season and is making $32 million after winning his arbitration case last winter.
For the Tigers, Skubal has been an absolute machine over the past three seasons. He threw at least 190 innings in both 2024 and 2025 and won the American League Cy Young Award in both years.
(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
So far this season, Skubal has a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts. He missed about a month and a half after a loose body was discovered in his throwing elbow. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure to relieve the bone chip.
Skubal returned on June 13 and allowed nine runs over his first 16 ⅓ innings. In six starts since, Skubal has a 1.95 ERA over 37 innings, during which he had 50 strikeouts against just six walks. Suffice to say, he is being traded while pitching as well as he has all season.
Skubal’s last start for the Tigers came on Wednesday in Detroit, when he was lifted after 6 ⅔ innings with six strikeouts and one walk, while allowing one run before the bullpen allowed both inherited runners to score.
