Dodgers To Acquire Tarik Skubal

Skubal hasn’t been as dominant in 2026, but the standard is quite high. A 2.79 ERA with a 31% strikeout rate over 16 starts is clearly excellent. It’s a slight step back from his Cy Young campaigns, though the underlying metrics are actually better this year. Skubal’s 2.50 xFIP and 2.67 SIERA are the best marks of his career. He’s trimmed his already-low walk rate to a career-best 3.7%.

The 29-year-old Skubal set a record over the offseason when he was awarded $32MM after winning his arbitration case. The Dodgers will owe him about $10MM for the remaining portion of the season. It’s a considerable sum, but an amount the Dodgers will gladly add to their massive payroll. Skubal will be the most sought-after arm in free agency this winter. The trade doesn’t guarantee he’ll stay in Los Angeles after this season, but it doesn’t hurt.

In dealing one of the best pitchers of the decade, Detroit gets a top-100 prospect and a pair of intriguing arms. Hope is the centerpiece. MLB Pipeline ranked him fifth in the organization and 25th overall. Baseball America had the outfielder sixth in the Dodgers’ system and 55th overall. Hope has hit at every level of the minor leagues. The 21-year-old is slashing .293/.369/.530 at Double-A this season.

It’s the second time Hope has been involved in a trade in his brief pro career. After getting drafted by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2023 draft, he was sent with lefty Jackson Ferris to the Dodgers for infielder Michael Busch and righty Yency Almonte in January 2024. Hope probably won’t debut this season, since he’s still just 21 and has yet to reach Triple-A. Once he’s ready, he’ll form an exciting outfield with three-time All-Star Riley Greene and top prospect Max Clark.

Hope is one of a stable of young outfield prospects in the Dodgers’ system. Josue De Paula tops the list, but Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero are also flourishing in the minors. All three remain in the organization for now. The Dodgers were also able to retain top pitching prospect Christian Zazueta.

Ryan burst onto the scene when he debuted with the Dodgers in 2024. The righty posted a 1.33 ERA across four starts after joining the club in late July. Right forearm tightness cut his season short in August. The injury ultimately required surgery that kept Ryan sidelined for all of 2025. Additional health concerns have limited him to eight starts at Triple-A this season.

The 27-year-old Ryan is a consensus top 10 prospect in L.A.’s system. Keeping him on the mound is the main concern. He’s totaled 233 innings as a pro since getting drafted in 2021. The upside is there if he can stay healthy. Ryan has pitched well at virtually every stop. This year’s 4.46 ERA with Oklahoma City isn’t ideal, but it comes with a 27.2% strikeout rate and a 5.1% walk rate. Ryan could be in a Tigers uniform before the 2026 campaign is done.

Smith is easily the furthest from the big leagues. The 2023 third-round pick missed all of his first pro season due to injury. He made it back last year and tossed 21 innings between the Complex league and Single-A. The 21-year-old Smith was recently bumped up to High-A. Baseball America had him just inside the top 30 in the Dodgers’ system. FanGraphs had him at No. 34 before the season. MLB Pipeline was the most aggressive, ranking Smith at No. 17.