Who are the 'biggest threats' to Dodgers in Tarik Skubal sweepstakes?

It seems it's not a matter of if the Detroit Tigers trade ace Tarik Skubal, but when.

The MLB trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. ET. Two-time American League Cy Young winner Skubal, who's in the final year of his contract, should be leaving Motown before then. The Tigers don't want to risk losing the 29-year-old pitcher in free agency when they could instead ship him elsewhere for a haul. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers (68-40 entering Thursday morning) have long been considered the favorite to acquire Skubal. The National League powerhouse can afford to give up multiple assets if it will help it win a third straight World Series. That said, Detroit wants to consider all its options, and other clubs could offer a package just as enticing as the one L.A. could.

Who are the "biggest threats" to Dodgers in Tarik Skubal sweepstakes?

On Thursday, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Milwaukee Brewers (67-41) and the Tampa Bay Rays (63-44) are the "biggest threats" to the Dodgers in the Skubal sweepstakes. Both World Series contenders need starting pitching depth and could be willing to send top prospects from their farm systems to land a star of Skubal's caliber. 

As of Thursday, FanGraphs Baseball ranks Tampa Bay's farm system No. 1 in baseball and Milwaukee's No. 3. L.A., meanwhile, boasts the No. 2 farm system.

Milwaukee, however, features shortstop Jesus Made, the No. 1 prospect in baseball (via FanGraphs). If the Brewers included the 19-year-old in a package for Skubal to sweeten the deal, that may sway Detroit to ship him to the NL Central squad. 

The Tigers (No. 9 farm system) would certainly need more up-and-coming talent to successfully rebuild after moving Skubal. As of Thursday, Detroit (51-58) was fourth in the AL Central and had gone 5-5 over its last 10 games. That included blowing another Skubal gem on Wednesday, when it squandered a 7-0 lead in a 10-9 extra-inning home loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Passan noted the Dodgers remain the favorites to acquire Skubal, but that could change quickly. He expects things to move fast. 

"This will come to a head quickly. Multiple executives believe, just to ensure medical hiccups don't scuttle a deal with limited time to pivot, that Skubal will be moved, at the latest, Monday morning," wrote Passan. "The hours between now and then will be frenzied, teams trying to position themselves to win without overpaying too dearly. It's all great theater, and it's just part of a trade deadline that goes well beyond a blockbuster deal." 

Get your popcorn ready. The race for Skubal is on, and we'll see if he lands with the Dodgers or if another team swoops in and acquires one of the best pitchers in baseball.