Dodgers’ perfect trade offer for Tigers’ Tarik Skubal

While Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is moving away from his hitting woes, the pitching staff injuries could cause the team to look for an additional starter. And here is the Dodgers’ perfect trade offer for Tigers’ standout Tarik Skubal.

A seven-year veteran, Skubal has established himself as one of the game’s best starters. He has a record of 34-12 over the last three seasons with 514 strikeouts in 430.1 innings and has won two straight Cy Young awards.

Currently, Skubal is on IR after undergoing an elbow procedure. But he has made rapid progress and could return to the mound in June.

Dodgers should go all-in for SP Tarik Skubal

A three-peat isn’t something to sneeze at. And because the Dodgers will face the full force of every other team in the playoffs to keep them from getting there, they need all of the pitching strength they can get.

And the Dodgers could put together a trade package for Skubal that matches or beats any other team.

It’s going to take quite a package to get Skubal. The Dodgers will probably have to make an offer, get rejected, and then add another player. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them have to give up three top-10 prospects. That’s a high price, but a three-peat is a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment.

Of course, the Tigers would demand outfielder Josue De Paula, the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect. He’s 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, and a sky’s-the-limit guy, according to MLB.com.

“De Paula draws comparisons to a slightly smaller but more athletic version of Yordan Alvarez, thanks to his precocious combination of swing decisions and exit velocities,” MLB.com wrote. “He offered at just 14 percent of pitches outside the strike zone last season — by comparison, Juan Soto led the Majors with a 16 percent rate.

“(He) is supremely comfortable working deep counts in order to find pitches he can punish. His sweet left-handed stroke produces hard contact to all fields that should translate into 30 homers per season. And perhaps more if he learns to drive balls in the air more consistently.”

The only real knock on De Paula is below-average speed. However, he stole 59 bases in 70 attempts over the last two seasons.

Also, the Dodgers may need to offer No. 2 prospect Zyhir Hope. The outfielder is adding strength and could be in the big leagues next year, according to MLB.com. Maybe sooner if the Tigers get him.

“Hope has added significant muscle since turning pro, is built like a running back, and possesses well above-average raw power from the left side of the plate,” MLB.com wrote. “His bat speed and strength produce high-end exit velocities, and he has no trouble driving balls in the air to his pull side. He executes good swing decisions as well. But (he) swings and misses at strikes much more than he should, especially at the top and bottom of the zone.

“Hope accelerates quickly and possesses solid speed along with aggression on the basepaths and in the outfield. He’s a fearless defender capable of handling center field, though he spent more time on the corners in High-A playing alongside speedster Kendall George.”

If the Dodgers give up those guys, they can move lower on the list to make the deal work. And that guy might be left-handed pitcher Adam Serwinowski. He’s probably an improved splitter away from making a big-league impact as early as next year, according to MLB.com. He ranks No. 11 on the Dodgers’ prospect list.

“Serwinowski gained fastball velocity as he added strength to his 6-foot-5 frame, and he now deals at 92-96 mph with occasional forays into the upper 90s,” MLB.com wrote. “It plays as a plus pitch because of its combination of extension, spin, and carry. His low-80s slider also features high spin rates with sweeping action that produced a 43 percent swing-and-miss rate in 2025.

“Because his fastball and slider are so effective, Serwinowski has yet to refine a third offering, with his upper-80s splitter flashing tumble but lacking consistency. His deceptive delivery is tough on hitters because of his extremely short arm action with natural extension. He could be a mid-rotation starter if he polishes his splitter as well as his control and command. And perhaps a high-leverage reliever if he doesn’t.”

Perhaps that package means the Tigers could include a veteran in the deal. Or maybe they supply the Dodgers’ farm system with a lesser outfielder. That could replace the double loss ot De Paula and Hope.

Regardless, the Dodgers need to make this move. That’s true even though it could crush the spirit of MLB for the summer, according to The Sporting News.

“If the Dodgers were actually to make such a massive move, it would surely demoralize the rest of Major League Baseball,” Jeff Sullivan wrote. “The Dodgers are already a superteam; they don’t need someone like Skubal. And yet, they might be the best fit.”