Los Angeles Angels announcer Wayne Randazzo was dumbfounded that the Los Angeles Dodgers somehow ended up with Tarik Skubal.
The Angels were in a pitchers’ duel in the 8th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers when news broke that the Dodgers landed Skubal just before the trade deadline. Upon hearing the news, Randazzo could no longer focus on the action on the field at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Before even hearing about what the Detroit Tigers got in return, Randazzo was already in disbelief that the Angels’ crosstown rivals grew even more formidable.
“Why couldn’t a team like the Brewers or the Braves, or whoever, step in and keep the Dodgers [from getting Skubal] … How could these other teams allow that to happen?” Randazzo said on the broadcast just as news broke.
The veteran announcer grew even more irate when he heard that all the Dodgers gave up were No. 5 prospect Zyhir Hope, No. 7 prospect River Ryan, and No. 17 prospect Brady Smith.
“They don’t even trade their best prospect, which is De Paula. How does this happen? Why would teams just allow the Dodgers to swoop in and do this? I don’t get it. … They traded the No. 25 prospect overall, No. 68, and a guy who isn’t even in the top 100 to land Skubal. It feels like that’s a deal other teams could have made.”
“The Dodgers aren’t the only team with prospects, and they aren’t the only team with top-100 prospects that are in the mix,” Randazzo continued after he learned of who the Dodgers traded to get Skubal.
Wayne Randazzo sounds off on the Angels broadcast about MLB contenders, including the Brewers, letting the Dodgers land Tarik Skubal in a trade with the Tigers.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 2, 2026
"How does this happen?… It feels like that's a deal other teams could have made." ⚾️🎙️ #MLB pic.twitter.com/UIAKdz7NLB
One possible reason no teams outbid the Dodgers was the growing belief that Skubal was planning to sign with the defending champs in the offseason, regardless of where he ended up after the deadline. Few teams would want to give up their top-end prospects for just a half-season rental of Skubal.
The lack of competition for the 2-time Cy Young winner has some believing that the rest of the owners colluded to get Skubal to the Dodgers. Should the Dodgers win a third straight World Series, fans might feel more inclined to support a salary cap being added to the next CBA. The current deal is set to expire at season’s end.
