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Jeff Passan at ESPN reports that Tarik Skubal‘s trade to the Dodgers is now “expected” — a notable escalation from earlier reporting that had Los Angeles as a potential suitor. This isn’t confirmation of a done deal, but Passan’s language suggests the two sides are far enough along that this feels like a matter of when, not if.

I want to be clear about something: Passan previously offered what he called a “guess” that the Dodgers would land Skubal, which we covered. This new report carries a different weight. Going from a guess to “expected” is a meaningful shift in tone from one of the most connected reporters in baseball. We’re not at the finish line yet, but the gap is closing fast.

Skubal has been one of the best pitchers in the American League since breaking out with the Tigers. The left-hander won the AL Cy Young Award in 2024 after posting a 2.39 ERA with 228 strikeouts across 192 innings — a season that announced him as a legitimate ace. He followed that up by remaining one of Detroit’s most reliable arms, combining elite strikeout ability with improved command that has made him a nightmare for opposing lineups. He’s under team control, which is a massive part of his appeal. You’re not just renting Skubal for two months — you’re potentially adding a front-of-the-rotation arm for the foreseeable future. That changes the calculus on what you’re willing to give up.

For Detroit, the return will need to be substantial. Skubal is the kind of pitcher teams build around, not trade away lightly. Earlier reports pegged guys like Eric Lauer and Nick Call as potential trade chips for the Dodgers, and the prospect package heading to the Tigers would almost certainly need to include high-end talent. The Dodgers’ farm system has been thinned by years of aggressive deadline moves, but they’ve restocked enough to make a deal like this feasible — especially after signing 15 of their 16 draft picks this year.

The pitching need is obvious and urgent. With Shohei Ohtani shut down from pitching due to a right biceps issue on top of his knee problems, and Tyler Glasnow still working his way back through rehab, the Dodgers’ rotation has been running on depth pieces and sheer will. Austin Wrobleski just got roughed up for four homers against the Mariners. The front office clearly sees the window and isn’t going to let a thin rotation be the reason this season slips away.

Adding Skubal would transform this pitching staff. You’d slot him in as the de facto ace right now and still have him when (hopefully) Glasnow and eventually Ohtani return. That’s a rotation that can win in October. The cost will be steep — I’m not naive about that — but this is exactly the kind of move the Dodgers’ front office was built to make. Andrew Friedman and company have shown repeatedly that they’ll pay the prospect price when the major league return justifies it. Skubal justifies it.

We should have more details soon. If Passan is saying “expected,” the odds are strong this gets done before the deadline. Stay tuned.

Source(s): Jeff Passan (ESPN) | First reported: July 29, 2026 11:43 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers