MLB Insider Labels Dodgers as Favorites to Land Tarik Skubal Through Potential Trade

Tarik Skubal crossed the 1,000 strikeout mark in an emotional start at Comerica Park on Wednesday.

MLB Insider Labels Dodgers as Favorites to Land Tarik Skubal Through Potential Trade

Tarik Skubal (Image via X/@SleeperDodgers)

On Wednesday, Tarik Skubal made his final start before the trade deadline next Monday. Following the Detroit Tigers’ loss, MLB insider Jeff Passan expressed that the pitcher would be traded and labeled the Los Angeles Dodgers as favorites to land him.

Skubal, who is in the final year of his contract, has been in trade speculation ever since the start of the season. Two weeks ago, reports emerged that the Tigers were not expected to trade him given the form they were in.

Things have, however, changed in the past few days. Following the series split against the Kansas City Royals, the Tigers were left with a 50-56 record. They then lost 8-5 in the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles before registering a historic 14-0 win over them on Tuesday.

This meant that Skubal would start the rubber game. Going into the match, he was sitting at 999 strikeouts, 1 away from a historic mark of 1,000 K’s.

He completed this milestone in the first inning itself by striking out Taylor Ward. He became the 17th Tigers star to reach this milestone.

Skubal threw 6.2 innings and picked up 6 strikeouts. As he left the mound, the fans at Comerica Park gave him a standing ovation.

The Tigers then blew the game. After Skubal gave up a run, which made it a 7-1 game, the O’s put up 4 more runs in the 7th inning and tied the game in the 8th inning. Eventually, the visitors came back from another 2-run deficit and won 10-9 after 12 innings.

With the defeat, the AL Central side once again fell 7 games under .500. After the game, MLB insider Jeff Passan did not hesitate and claimed that the southpaw would be traded by the team.

Yeah, Tarik Skubal’s gonna be traded. … But the expectation is that’s gonna happen within the next day or two.

Jeff Passan said on ESPN SportsCenter

There are several suitors at the moment for Skubal. Passan, though, labeled the Dodgers as the favorites to land him.

They (Tigers) understand that they have a lot of engaged teams right now. … The Milwaukee Brewers, who have a tremendous farm system. … The Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the favorites at this point and frankly have been since the possibility of Tarik Skubal getting traded first surfaced a couple of months ago.

Jeff Passan added

The Dodgers have had some injury issues with their pitching rotation. Shohei Ohtani has not pitched since July 3rd following a problem in his left knee. Blake Snell could be back next week after his rehab program, while Tyler Glasnow is also about to start one.

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Tarik Skubal claims he had given Detroit everything he had

The emotions are high in the Detroit Tigers clubhouse at the moment. There is a huge possibility that the team could trade away Tarik Skubal instead of losing him for free. Following the game on Wednesday, the 29-year-old pitcher looked back at his career and expressed that he had given everything to the city.

Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal (Image via X/@SleeperBrewers)

Skubal was a former ninth-round pick who was turned into a top prospect. He picked up his first strikeout on August 18, 2020, in front of zero fans during the COVID-19-shortened season.

On July 29, 2026, he picked up his 1,000th strikeout. This came in 857 innings and saw him overtake Max Scherzer for the fastest to 1,000 strikeouts in Tigers franchise history.

When he left the field, he received a huge ovation from the crowd. While speaking about this with the reporters, he claimed it was a special moment. He then hoped that the fans would realize that he gave everything he could for the team.

Hopefully they feel like I’ve given everything to the team, to the city, because I truly have.

Tarik Skubal told the reporters

Last year, Skubal became just the 12th pitcher in MLB history to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards. Following a dominant victory in 2024, he took home this crown once again in 2025.

Following the outing on Wednesday, he has a 7-5 record in 16 starts with a 2.79 ERA. The focus is now on where his next start will be.

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