NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers have never been shy about making bold moves. Fresh off signing Kyle Tucker to a record-breaking $240 million contract, the two-time defending World Series champions may be preparing yet another power play. This time, their target could be the most dominant pitcher in baseball.
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, has emerged as a potential trade target. The news should send shivers down the spine of every Yankees and Mets fan who hoped their teams might land the elite left-hander first.
Arbitration standoff sparks trade speculation
The situation in Detroit has reached a critical point. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on the “Just Baseball” podcast Monday that Skubal could be next on the Dodgers’ shopping list. The driving force behind this speculation? A massive arbitration dispute between the pitcher and his team.
Skubal filed for $32 million in arbitration. The Tigers countered with just $19 million. That $13 million gap represents the largest in salary arbitration history. The standoff has created uncertainty that could push Detroit toward a trade.
“If he wins arbitration and they’re paying him $32 million, that’s a drop in the bucket,” Olney said. “The Dodgers would probably be like, ‘Sure, we’ll take him.'”
That statement highlights just how casually Los Angeles could approach a deal of that magnitude. For the Yankees and Mets, the math is more complicated.
Why the Yankees need pitching help
The Yankees enter 2026 with major rotation concerns. Gerrit Cole is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected back until late May or early June. Carlos Rodon had elbow surgery in October and could miss Opening Day. Clarke Schmidt also underwent Tommy John surgery last July.
That leaves Max Fried as the only proven frontline starter available when the season begins. Behind him sit promising but unproven arms like Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren. General manager Brian Cashman has acknowledged the need for reinforcements.
“I just think the more, the better,” Cashman said in December about adding rotation depth.
The Yankees have engaged in talks with the Nationals about MacKenzie Gore and with the Brewers about Freddy Peralta. But a blockbuster swap for Skubal remains unlikely given Detroit’s asking price.
Dodgers hold the upper hand
Both New York clubs have been connected to Skubal in recent weeks. However, the same obstacle keeps blocking their path. Detroit wants an elite prospect haul that neither front office appears willing to surrender.
That hesitation only amplifies the Dodgers’ advantage. Where other big spenders blink at the combination of salary risk and prospect cost, Los Angeles has repeatedly shown it is comfortable absorbing both.
“I’ve heard around the edges that there’s been more activity around Skubal in terms of preparing for possible trades since this arbitration situation popped up,” Olney said.
The Dodgers already boast a rotation that could rank among the best in club history. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki form an embarrassment of riches. Adding Skubal would push their staff into truly terrifying territory.
Skubal’s historic dominance
The 29-year-old left-hander delivered another masterful campaign in 2025. He posted a 13-6 record with a league-leading 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 195.1 innings. His 0.89 WHIP topped all qualified pitchers. His 187 ERA+ was the best by an AL pitcher since Justin Verlander in 2022.
Skubal became the first pitcher to win consecutive AL Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. He joined Denny McLain as the only Tigers to capture multiple Cy Youngs with Detroit.
“He put it all out on the line all season,” catcher Dillon Dingler said. “That’s the kind of pitcher he is. He’s awesome.”
Tigers’ silence fuels rumors
What makes the situation even more unsettling is Detroit’s public silence. Tigers GM Scott Harris has made no declaration taking Skubal off the trade market. Other executives have shut down speculation around their stars. Harris has not.
“Scott Harris can end all the conversation anytime he wants,” Olney said. “He could come on your podcast today and say, ‘We’re done,’ like Mike Hazen did with Ketel Marte. And he has not done that.”
The arbitration hearing is scheduled between Jan. 26 and Feb. 13 in Scottsdale, Arizona. If Skubal wins, he would set a new record for the largest one-year salary received by any player in arbitration. The current record for a pitcher belongs to David Price, who agreed to $19.75 million with Detroit back in 2015.
The Dodgers’ spending power reshapes the market
Los Angeles has fully embraced what Olney described as baseball’s emerging “villain” role. After landing Ohtani, Yamamoto, and now Tucker, the Dodgers have committed more than $1 billion in contracts over the past two offseasons. Their 2026 payroll exceeds $400 million.
The Tucker signing alone came with a staggering $62.81 million luxury tax hit. The Dodgers are essentially valuing his 2026 season at $120 million when taxes are included. That kind of spending makes a potential Skubal acquisition feel far more attainable in Chavez Ravine than in the Bronx or Queens.
For Yankees fans watching their team hesitate on pitching acquisitions, the Dodgers’ aggressive approach serves as a painful reminder. As Cole continues his rehab and the rotation questions mount, time is running short to find answers before spring training.
“It’s absolutely clear with the gap in the offers they made to Skubal that he’s not coming back after next year,” Olney said. The writing appears to be on the wall. The only question is whether the Dodgers will be the ones to read it first.
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