
Against all odds, the Detroit Tigers still have an opportunity to make the playoffs.
They play in one of the weakest divisions in baseball, and despite their struggles, they're not that far behind in the American League wild-card race.
Nevertheless, with Tarik Skubal set to be a free agent at the end of the season, they could still field calls for the two-time Cy Young winner.
If that's the case, the Los Angeles Dodgers might be his most likely destination. In an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up," insider Jeff Passan explained why Dave Roberts' team might be leading the race.
“If there is a team that is going to get Tarik Skubal and has both the incentive and the ability to do so, it is the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Passan said. “And I know people don’t like hearing that. The Dodgers have won two consecutive championships. They already have a roster that’s loaded with stars, but they can pretty much do whatever they want at this point.”
"If there is a team that's gonna go get Tarik Skubal, ... it is the Los Angeles Dodgers." @JeffPassan on the Tigers potentially trading Skubal ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/cW5zcOyCOr
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 13, 2026
For what it's worth, Skubal reportedly told his inner circle that he wanted to finish the season in Detroit.
That said, it might not be his call at this point. He hasn't been on the same page with the team about a contract extension, and they may not want to risk losing him for nothing in free agency.
Skubal's production has taken a bit of a hit this season, mostly due to injury, but he's still one of the most dominant hurlers in the game.
And, given the Dodgers' long and well-documented history of stacking up talent like no other team in the game, this certainly checks out.
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