Tarik Subal urged to show ‘self-respect’ in potential Dodgers trade, but fans need to get real

Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

I'm of the belief that the Los Angeles Dodgers are the best team in Major League Baseball because of all the right moves the front office has made. 

We can look at what the Dodgers have done over the past few years, and I understand why some fans get upset because they've done more than any team in baseball, and many think it's unfair, but we also have to credit them for building the proper roster. 

That includes the farm system, as the Dodgers are only going to get better in the future, with multiple prospects who could be traded for big-time talent.

There's a reason many are starting to view the Dodgers as the favorites to land Tarik Skubal if he gets traded, though one writer recently suggested that Skubal might have too much self-respect and not want to play in Los Angeles.

“If Skubal has too much self-respect to "want" the Dodgers, which feels like the easy way out, then he has my respect. But in reality, going to a premier organization with an endless payroll, great infrastructure and a ton of talent sounds pretty great. If Skubal "wants" to win the World Series, he has better than even odds in Los Angeles, which can't be said for any other team,” Christopher Kline wrote.

I can understand what Kline is trying to say here in terms of self-respect, but I also think it's a bit crazy to say that a professional baseball player shouldn't want to win. 

At the end of the day, fans can get upset about what the Dodgers are doing, but they're back-to-back World Series champions, show that they're willing to spend on their players, and do things right from top to bottom regarding the lifestyle for their guys.

Any player in Major League Baseball would probably want to play for the Dodgers, and that's something fans need to keep in the back of our minds.

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