Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Despite initially downplaying the need to make a splash, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off the biggest move at the trade deadline by acquiring two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for three prospects.
Skubal is one of the best starting pitchers in baseball, and his arrival further bolsters what was already a formidable starting rotation when at full strength.
“Obviously, you can feel the energy, the excitement, the buzz,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of players’ reactions to the Skubal trade. “This was a different year in the sense that it was Skubal or nothing, essentially. We have a lot of good players, a lot of good depth already.
“In typical years, there’s a lot of speculation and guys wondering where they’re going to land or what’s going to happen, but I think this year, even with this addition, we obviously got a whole lot better, but guys are going to be the guys, the roles are the roles. We’re just thrilled.”
It wasn’t guaranteed that the Tigers would trade Skubal, but the Dodgers were able to reach an agreement late on Saturday night before officially announcing the deal the following morning.
“Honestly, I personally don’t put too much hope into anything because a lot of it doesn’t happen,” Roberts began. “I think just for fear of being let down or disappointed, all the while knowing the guys are going to do the best job they can and what’s best for the organization, just knowing the prospects that we did have, they were laser-focused on this particular player.
“So I was hopeful, but not overly, like, it needs to happen, type of thing.”
Did Dodgers need Tarik Skubal?
The Dodgers rotation has been plagued by injuries this season, but there is reason for optimism as Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are nearing returns. L.A. also expects Shohei Ohtani to pitch again despite battling left knee discomfort and a right biceps injury.
Thus, one could have argued that the Dodgers didn’t necessarily need to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. However, the opportunity to add a player of Skubal’s caliber was too great to pass up.
“I think that’s fair,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “When I was here the other day and talking through our starters, we feel the exact same way about them and where they are in their progression and the confidence we have in their returning.
“Obviously, there are no guarantees in terms of other things happening. We don’t know what the world is going to look like at the end of September. So I don’t think we went into this saying this is an acute need, but as we’ve talked about a lot, whenever there’s a star-level player that is available that can really shift championship odds, those are the moments we’ll be more aggressive.
“We’ve tried in other instances and not lined up, and others where we have. But I think being by the backboard and doing everything we can to put ourselves in the best position with the core we have right now, with the way they go about their preparation to do everything they can to win a championship, when we can add to that and enhance our chances, we’re going to be aggressive to do so.”
Friedman also suggested that Skubal was the Dodgers’ only starting pitching target at this year’s trade deadline. However, the team also landed Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals, who he is currently on the 60-day injured list due to left elbow and shoulder soreness. Like Skubal, Bubic is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season.
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