MLB Insider Doubts Dodgers-Tigers Tarik Skubal Trade This Season

Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci believes the Tigers are unlikely to trade their star pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers in 2026.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 5:23am

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According to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci, the Los Angeles Dodgers are unlikely to trade for Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal this season. Verducci believes Skubal is too valuable to the Tigers, who are expected to contend in the American League Central, to move him at the trade deadline.

Why it matters

Skubal is one of the best pitchers in baseball, having won the AL Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons. The Dodgers have been rumored to be interested in acquiring him, but Verducci doesn't see a realistic path for that trade to happen this year.

The details

Verducci explained that the Tigers are unlikely to trade Skubal, who is set to make $32 million in 2026 after winning arbitration, because he is so crucial to their chances of contending in the AL Central. The Dodgers do their due diligence on all top players, but Verducci believes the Tigers will try to re-sign Skubal rather than trade him away.

  • Tarik Skubal won arbitration and is set to make $32 million in 2026.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who has won the AL Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons.

Tom Verducci

A senior writer for Sports Illustrated who provided analysis on the likelihood of the Dodgers trading for Skubal.

Los Angeles Dodgers

A Major League Baseball team that has been rumored to be interested in acquiring Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit Tigers

A Major League Baseball team that currently employs Tarik Skubal and is expected to try to re-sign him rather than trade him away.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I've never really bought into that possibility, only because of how much he means to Detroit. The Dodgers do their due diligence. We all know that. And I think Tarik Skubal likely is not going to resign with the Tigers, if he does, it's going to be a number that's beyond what anywhere the Tigers have gone, even with Miguel Cabrera.”

— Tom Verducci, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated

What’s next

It remains to be seen what happens with Skubal's future, but the Tigers are expected to try to re-sign him rather than trade him away at the deadline.

The takeaway

This report suggests that despite the Dodgers' interest, the Tigers are unlikely to trade away their star pitcher Tarik Skubal this season as he is too valuable to their playoff hopes in the AL Central.