Proposed blockbuster Dodgers trade sees Los Angeles empty the farm to land $300 million two-time Cy Young, create legendary 1-2 punch with Yoshinobu Yamamoto originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have started the 2026 season strong, with a record of 11-4 and first place in the NL West. They have the best team in the MLB, and arguably the best rotation as well.
It does have one kryptonite, though; aside from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the rotation is made of glass. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman proposes that the Dodgers fix this in the most Dodgers way possible: break baseball by trading with the Detroit Tigers for Tarik Skubal.
MORE: Proposed Dodgers trade sees Los Angeles land $9.4 million two-time All-Star slugger, create super platoon with Max Muncy
Tigers get: RHP Emmett Sheehan, MLB No. 12 overall prospect OF Josue De Paula, MLB No. 56 overall prospect OF Mike Sirota, LAD No. 9 prospect RHP Christian Zazueta
The Detroit Tigers opted not to trade Tarik Skubal after an offseason full of rumors, but they could change their mind by the trade deadline. They hope to be competitive, but what if they're not? Trading Skubal, knowing that he's likely gone as a free agent after the year anyway, would make sense in that world. If he were to become available, it'd be hard to envision any team outbidding the Dodgers for his services,” Rotman wrote.
Skubal is already in Cy Young form again, with a record of 1-2, an ERA of 2.55, 16 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.075 in 17.2 innings pitched. Combine him with Yamamoto, and the Dodgers have two of the four best workhorse aces in the MLB.
MORE: Proposed blockbuster Astros trade sees Houston land $56 million Cy Young ace, create electric 1-2-3 punch with Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai
Skubal’s market value calls for at least an eight-year, $300 million deal. However, this doesn’t matter for the Dodgers, as they can either pay it because why not, and if they don’t, they still have the best team in the MLB and a good farm.
This trade has been floated for a while now, and the problem is it’s totally doable. If the Dodgers pull this off, they will have created the greatest roster ever assembled.
Proposed Red trade sees Cincinnati land $9.4 million two-time All-Star slugger as massive upgrade over Ke'Bryan Hayes
Astros linked to $61 million All-Star, former Cy Young candidate as temporary replacement for Hunter Brown
Angels predicted to part ways with, put $2.9 million 0.45 ERA breakout ace on trade block after Cy Young-level start to 2026 season