Several fans and even some media members believe the Los Angeles Dodgers received a helping hand to land Tarik Skubal.
The Dodgers’ evil empire grew even more villainous on Saturday with news that the team had acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Dodgers traded a package of three prospects in exchange for Skubal.
The Tigers did not get a single one of the Dodgers’ top-4 prospects, instead receiving No. 5 outfielder Zyhir Hope, No. 7 right-handed pitcher River Ryan, and No. 17 right-handed pitcher Brady Smith.
Many felt virtually every other team in the league could have topped the Dodgers’ offer, but refused to do so. It prompted fans and even some reporters to suggest that the rest of the league could be colluding to gain leverage during the upcoming CBA negotiations.
I honestly think this is collusion these cheap owners want dodgers to 3 peat to justify a lockout and salary cap https://t.co/bbCK1Qlih3
— Earl Simmons (@YankeesFanEarl) August 2, 2026
This is coordinated; all the owners want this. They want the Dodgers to do this so they have public support when they lose the 2027 season. It's all been the game plan from Day 1. @KFCBarstool sees it too. https://t.co/ykbkR2cUSw
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) August 2, 2026
If you told me a majority of MLB owners were colluding so that they could use the Dodgers as the reason for a salary cap…
— Rich MacLeod (@richmacleod) August 2, 2026
I’d probably believe you at this point.
The Dodgers getting Skubal will make owners happy. If the Dodgers win another World Series, baseball will be back in 2028 with a salary cap.
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) August 2, 2026
MLB owners are just letting the Dodgers get a free 3 peat so they get their salary cap https://t.co/T8fvseGwJv
— Griff (@Jram2TBJ) August 2, 2026
The Dodgers, who have had a top-3 payroll in each of the last three seasons, have won back-to-back World Series and look all the more poised for a third. More than a few online voices claimed that such a result would have neutral fans backing the owners at season’s end, with the current CBA set to expire in December.
MLB remains the only one of the four major U.S. sports leagues yet to implement some form of a salary cap, allowing big-market teams like the Dodgers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees to pile on massive payrolls year after year.
The team with the highest salary bill, however, is never guaranteed a World Series or even team success for that matter. Just ask the Mets, who seem set to miss the playoffs for a second straight year.
The Dodgers have simply played the money game better than anyone. The team’s use of deferrals in various contracts has allowed them to keep spending despite already fielding an All-Star at almost every position.
Should the Skubal deal lead to a third consecutive World Series victory, fans believe the league may soon take away the financial tools the Dodgers have gotten so good at using.
