The “massive trade” rumor that would most drastically alter the MLB landscape centers on the Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring two-time American League Cy Young winner, LHP Tarik Skubal, from the Detroit Tigers.1
This hypothetical trade would instantly solidify the Dodgers as overwhelming favorites for an unprecedented three-peat, creating arguably the most dominant starting rotation in baseball history.
The Trade Target: Tarik Skubal
- Club Control: Skubal has one year of club control remaining before hitting free agency after the 2026 season.
- The Price: The Tigers are reportedly holding firm, but if they decide they cannot meet his expected $400+ million free-agent valuation, they would seek a trade package headlined by multiple top-five Dodgers prospects.
- 2025 Dominance: Skubal is coming off a spectacular season: a 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts, and a 0.89 WHIP in 195.1 innings, resulting in his second consecutive Cy Young award.2
Why This Alters the MLB Landscape
The Dodgers already possess an incredible rotation, but acquiring Skubal would make it unassailable:
| Pitcher | Hand | Notable Achievement | Note |
| Tarik Skubal | LHP | Back-to-Back Cy Young Winner | Projected Trade Acquisition |
| Blake Snell | LHP | 2x Cy Young Award Winner | Signed |
| Shohei Ohtani | RHP/LHP | MVP & Dual Threat | Signed (Returning to pitching in 2026) |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | RHP | Signed to Record Contract | Signed |
| Tyler Glasnow | RHP | Frontline Ace | Signed |
| Roki Sasaki | RHP | High-Upside Starter | Projected to be in the rotation |
Adding Skubal would give the Dodgers three reigning or former Cy Young winners and two generational talents in one rotation. This depth would perfectly support GM Brandon Gomes’s plan to run a flexible six-man rotation, protecting every arm (especially the injury-prone Glasnow and the returning Ohtani) while maintaining an elite level of competition every single night.
The Other Blockbuster Trade Piece
The other major trade rumor involves the Dodgers using their existing depth to address a position of need by trading one of their current starters:
- The Tyler Glasnow Trade: Some anonymous MLB executives have floated the idea of the Dodgers trading Tyler Glasnow (owed $65 million over the next two years) to a rotation-hungry team. 3The rationale is that the Dodgers have too many starters and could use Glasnow’s value to acquire a defensive outfielder or an elite reliever, filling the holes exposed during the 2025 season.
The pursuit of Skubal, however, remains the true “landscape-altering” scenario.
