Surprising Details Emerge On Tigers-Dodgers Tarik Skubal Trade
Per Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic, it was the Detroit Tigers who called the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night to push the trade across the finish line, not the other way around.
"The Dodgers adopted a more expansive approach this deadline, placing even more value on the opinions of their pro scouts and internal talent evaluators," the pair reported. "The group was beginning to wrap up their meeting Saturday evening when the Tigers called, saying they wanted to get the deal done that night." Andrew Friedman and Detroit's Scott Harris finalized terms while the Dodgers were still mid-game against the Red Sox.
The Tigers sent their two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner to Los Angeles for outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith.
Detroit Barely Shopped Him Anywhere Else
The revelation lines up with reporting that Detroit's actual market search was thin.
Per Bleacher Report, the Tigers "spent minimal time negotiating with the Tampa Bay Rays, with their sights seemingly set on that Dodgers' system," while the Milwaukee Brewers, widely seen as having the prospect capital to compete, never got seriously engaged despite a farm system that rival evaluators considered plenty deep enough to win a bidding war.
Tarik Skubal was impressed with the Dodgers having their own players-only plane, but was blown away by their clubhouse
— Punchoutpitch (@Punchoutpitch) August 9, 2026
"I can’t believe how big that is. I went to look for the hot tub, and wound up in the batting cage."
(Via @BNightengale) pic.twitter.com/Ro9emS5WNi
ESPN's reporting backs that up. The Cubs, Braves, Brewers, Yankees, and Rays were all connected to Skubal to varying degrees, with Milwaukee viewed as the favorite among that group, but "the Dodgers were the clear front-runners all along."
Two Threads That Explain Why
Skubal had already been open about wanting to test free agency and had been connected to signing with the Dodgers down the line, a dynamic that may have scared off other suitors from offering a package big enough to compete, since they'd risk giving up significant young talent only to lose him to Los Angeles in free agency anyway.
There was also tension over an injury disclosure. Skubal acknowledged withholding information about a physical issue from the team, a situation he suggested may have been tied to friction from his arbitration case earlier in the year.
Tarik Skubal on @PardonMyTake
— Jim Costa (@JimCosta_) August 7, 2026
“I would love to play my entire career in Detroit”
“Hopefully those negotiations can pick back up once the playoffs are done”
“Hopefully, they’re involved with everything, I would love to return”#DNMW pic.twitter.com/T7CVz8pgq7
Skubal made clear the emotional weight of leaving despite how it unfolded.
"I'm excited to be here and learn everything about the Dodgers and all these guys here, develop relationships and win as many baseball games as I can," Skubal said, while also describing his goodbye to Detroit as saying farewell to some of his "best friends."
He's since said he'd welcome reopening contract talks with the Tigers once he reaches free agency in November, noting Detroit previously offered him a deal worth under $80 million over four years after his first Cy Young season, a number that fell well short of what he's expected to command on the open market.
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