The Los Angeles Dodgers might really be landing Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal at this year’s trade deadline.
On Tuesday night, Shohei Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts said the two-way star is dealing with a biceps issue as well as a sore knee. He hasn’t pitched since July 3, and there is now no timetable for Ohtani’s return to the mound.
Ohtani threw a bullpen recently in Philadelphia, although they admitted his body didn’t respond well after that.
As such, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Dodgers’ interest in Skubal has “increased” due to the Ohtani update.
The Dodgers’ interest in Tarik Skubal has increased due to questions surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s availability to pitch, as I reported on @MLBNetwork earlier.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 29, 2026
Yet it is unlikely the Tigers could obtain OF prospect Josue De Paula as the headliner in a multi-player package.
Earlier in the week, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan said that his “guess” was that the Dodgers would win the Skubal sweepstakes, and things might get more hectic given Ohtani’s uncertainty.
The Tigers’ reported asking price for Skubal is a “controllable starting pitcher plus quality prospects,” according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, and Morosi mentioned that it is “unlikely” that Josue De Paula is part of any deal.
Nonetheless, the Dodgers have not been shy to make major moves in the summer or the offseason, and landing Skubal could expedite contract discussions with the reigning American League Cy Young winner as LA eyes a third straight World Series title.
