Detroit’s biggest baseball star is headed west, with the Tigers trading two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers just before Monday’s deadline. The deal ends one of the most dominant stretches by a Detroit pitcher in years and gives the Dodgers another terrifying October weapon.
According to WXYZ, Detroit is receiving outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. The trade was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, with the deal arriving less than 48 hours before the MLB deadline.
Skubal Leaves Detroit After Historic Run
Skubal entered Sunday with a 2.79 ERA, 116 strikeouts and a 0.910 WHIP through 15 starts this season. He also missed roughly a month after arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow, then returned to form quickly, posting a 2.03 ERA and 41 strikeouts over his previous five starts, according to The Associated Press.
The left-hander won the last two AL Cy Young Awards and became the first pitcher to win the honor in consecutive seasons since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. He also made the All-Star team in 2024 and 2025, reached 1,000 career strikeouts in his most recent start and leaves Detroit with a 3.05 career ERA through 148 starts.
Detroit Was Still Hanging Around The Playoff Picture
The trade is especially jarring because the Tigers were not completely out of the race. Detroit was 52-58 through Friday, six games behind the American League Central leader and three games out of a Wild Card spot, while going 26-16 since June 1, the third-best record in baseball during that span, per WXYZ.
Still, Skubal is scheduled to become a free agent after this season, and he won a record-setting $32 million arbitration award for 2026. With Detroit facing the possibility of losing its ace without a return, the Tigers chose a prospect haul over one more push with their franchise pitcher.
Dodgers Add Another Ace For October
Los Angeles had been viewed as one of the most logical landing spots for Skubal for weeks. MLB.com previously identified the Dodgers as a prime fit because of their rotation questions, deep farm system and pursuit of a third consecutive World Series title.
Skubal now joins a Dodgers club that has repeatedly treated the trade deadline like an opportunity to collect superstars. For Detroit, the bet is that Hope, Ryan and Smith can eventually soften the blow of losing a pitcher who had become nearly impossible to replace.
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