Tarik Skubalis no guarantee the Los Angeles Dodgers will win their third straight World Series title.
Unless, that is, Skubal can play right field, play shortstop, and swing the bat with consistency and authority.
The truth is, the Dodgers needed more than Skubal to start crafting new World Series rings and reserving buses for a victory parade.
This is not meant to minimize what Skubal brings to Los Angeles. The left-hander throws a 97 mph four-seam fastball and keeps hitters off balance with a changeup and sinker. He’s the reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner.
He’s an ace.
But it’s unclear how Skubal can effectively mask, much less solve, the Dodgers’ most serious problems. Here are some issues facing the Dodgers after the trade
deadline.
Dodgers' offense has big issues
By problems, we’re talking about right fielder Kyle Tucker.
The Dodgers gave him a $240 million, four-year deal before the season and he has given the Dodgers a slash line of .237/.335/.368.
He started the season batting second behind Shohei Ohtani and now he’s batting sixth – and without much effectiveness.
The Dodgers kept Tucker out of the starting lineup against the Boston Red Sox Aug. 1 after he batted 5-for-28 (.179) over the previous nine games.
By problems, we’re also talking about shortstop Mookie Betts. He has slumped before, but never quite like this.
He is slashing .229/.286/.399 compared to his career slash line of .288/.365/.509. He strained his right oblique earlier in the season and he returned to the lineup five weeks later. But his bat has largely remained missing in action.
At 33, he only faintly resembles the eight-time All-Star. And he has seven years left on his 12-year, $365 million contract.
But it’s not about the money. It’s about the runs. Even Skubal likely will need run support, as will the other Dodgers starting pitchers.
At the plate, Tucker and Betts are liabilities.
Dodgers continue to deal with injuries
The prevailing sentiment in Los Angeles is that when the postseason starts, the Dodgers will own baseball’s best starting rotation.
But Shohei Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee. There’s no timetable for him to resume pitching or that he will regain his elite form.
There’s also no guarantee that starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow (lower back spasms) and Blake Snell (left elbow surgery) will return in top form by the time the playoffs start.
Not to mention catcher Will Smith, a three-time All-Star who has been sidelined with an injured neck since early June.
Of course, those won’t be problems at all if Skubal can singlehandedly solve them.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Tarik Skubal trade isn't enough for Dodgers
