The MLB trade deadline is drawing closer and the Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash on Saturday, Aug. 1.
The Dodgers were considered the favorites to land pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers and followed through on that long-talked-about rumor.
Skubal had been linked to the two-time defending champions since December.
The Dodgers sent outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to the Tigers in the trade, a baseball official confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The baseball official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official.
Los Angeles will have Skubal for the rest of the season. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent, though the Dodgers stand an excellent chance to re-sign
the star.
Here’s how the baseball world reacted to the news about the Dodgers trading for Skubal:
Reactions as Dodgers acquire Tarik Skubal from Tigers
Skubal joins a pitching rotation that features Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow
The Dodgers have a potential playoff rotation of:
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 2, 2026
1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2. Tarik Skubal
3. Blake Snell
4. Shohei Ohtani
They also have Tyler Glasnow, Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan.
This team may just be unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/3GhH1EG5TP
Yamamoto reacted to the Dodgers trading for Skubal on Saturday night:
"I was hearing some rumors about that, but then it actually happened. I'm pretty surprised."
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 2, 2026
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (L (11-7), 8.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K, 96 P) talks with the media on the #Dodgers reportedly acquiring back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal via trade… pic.twitter.com/SQWWCD40Wn
With the addition of Skubal to the roster, the Dodgers are now projected to have a $430 million luxury tax payroll for this season. It will lead to a $180 million tax bill at the end of the season, according to Spotrac.
#MLB TRADE#Dodgers Acquire
— Spotrac (@spotrac) August 2, 2026
SP Tarik Skubal
2026: $9.5M*
2027: UFA#Tigers Acquire
OF Zyhir Hope (#5)
RHP River Ryan (#7)
RHP Brady Smith (#17)
*assumes no retained salary
According to MLB Pipeline, the Dodgers traded their #5 prospect, #7 prospect, and #17 prospect for Tarik Skubal.
— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) August 2, 2026
What an absolute no-brainer for LA. Good lord they won’t even feel this pic.twitter.com/IYy0Imsrqg
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers acquire Tarik Skubal in trade with Tigers: Baseball world reacts
