Dodgers close to acquiring Tarik Skubal in blockbuster three-player trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers may be about to pull off the biggest trade of the MLB season. Los Angeles is close to acquiring Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in exchange for right-hander Emmet Sheehan, Double-A outfielder Zyhir Hope and Class-A right-hander Brady Smith, according to a source who spoke with The Athletic.

The deal had not yet been officially announced, meaning the return could still change or negotiations could encounter a late obstacle. If completed as reported, however, the Dodgers would add a two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner to an already star-studded roster.

Skubal has gone 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 116 strikeouts over 96.2 innings this season. The 29-year-old left-hander has allowed only 74 hits and 14 walks across 16 starts.

He was particularly dominant in his final two July outings, recording 18 strikeouts and allowing four earned runs over 14 innings against the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles.

Now, Skubal appears close to taking his electric arsenal to Los Angeles.

Dodgers could build terrifying postseason rotation

The Dodgers did not necessarily need another superstar. That has never stopped them from pursuing one. Adding Skubal would give manager Dave Roberts another legitimate ace alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, depending on which pitchers are healthy and available for the postseason.

Dodgers close to acquiring Tarik Skubal for RHP Emmett Sheehan, Class A RHP Brady Smith and Double A OF Zyhir Hope, source tells @TheAthletic.

That collection of talent would give Los Angeles an almost unfair number of options in a short playoff series. Roberts could use Skubal and Yamamoto at the front of the rotation while deploying the rest of his starters based on matchups, availability and recent form.

Skubal would be far more than another insurance policy.

The left-hander won consecutive AL Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025, establishing himself as one of the most overpowering pitchers in baseball. He also recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his career in his most recent start, reaching the milestone faster than any left-handed pitcher since Randy Johnson.

Skubal underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from his left elbow earlier this season, but he returned to Detroit’s rotation and quickly regained his dominant form.

That recent health history adds some risk. His upside, however, is impossible to ignore for a Dodgers team chasing a third consecutive World Series championship.

Tigers would receive immediate help and significant upside

Detroit would not be giving away its ace without receiving an intriguing package in return. Sheehan would provide the Tigers with an immediate rotation option rather than a prospect who remains years away from the majors. The 26-year-old has already shown flashes of being a productive major-league starter and would remain under team control well beyond the 2026 season.

Hope would likely be the centerpiece of the prospect portion of the return. The 21-year-old outfielder entered the season as one of the highest-rated players in Los Angeles’ system. FanGraphs ranked him as the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect entering 2026, behind only fellow outfielder Josue De Paula.

Hope’s combination of power, athleticism and offensive upside would give Detroit another potential impact bat for its next competitive roster. His inclusion also would allow the Dodgers to retain De Paula, widely regarded as the premier prospect in their organization.

Smith would give the Tigers another young arm to develop. While he is much further from the majors than Sheehan, his inclusion would deepen a return built around one established pitcher and one premium position-player prospect.

For Detroit, that package would have to be weighed against the possibility of keeping Skubal for the remainder of a disappointing season and then losing him in free agency.

Skubal is earning an arbitration-record $32 million in 2026 and is scheduled to reach the open market this offseason. With the Tigers below .500 and trailing in the AL Central, the deadline represents their final realistic opportunity to receive a major return for him.

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Skubal trade could reshape the World Series race

Landing Skubal would not guarantee the Dodgers another championship, but it would significantly change the postseason landscape.

The Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees and several other contenders had also been connected to the Tigers ace. By acquiring him, Los Angeles would accomplish two things at once: strengthen its own rotation and prevent another World Series contender from adding one of baseball’s best pitchers.

It would also represent another stunning show of aggression from a franchise that already employs Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and several other stars.

The Dodgers have repeatedly demonstrated that they will continue searching for upgrades regardless of how imposing their roster already appears.

Skubal may be their biggest addition yet.

Nothing is official until both clubs announce the trade, but the reported package suggests negotiations have moved well beyond the exploratory stage. If the deal crosses the finish line, the Dodgers will have landed the deadline’s biggest prize and assembled a postseason rotation no opponent will want to face.

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