The Los Angeles Dodgers have put themselves in the driver's seat to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Trade Deadline weekend is the start of behind-the-scenes moves from general managers across MLB coming into light with the hopes of changing the trajectory of one team's postseason hopes.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who hold a league-best 69-40 record, have seemingly put all their chips on a southpaw arm that dawns navy blue, orange, and white.
Of course, the big fish in question is Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Los Angeles has the most enticing trade package to offer for Skubal's services, which includes a controllable pitcher (Emmet Sheehan) and an array of prospects, according to Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
The Dodgers have plenty of avenues at their disposal to acquire Skubal. For one, and as originally reported by Woo, Los Angeles was looking to beef up their already top-tier farm system by trading some prospects for depth.
There is also the possibility that the Dodgers include a pair of outfielder prospects in negotiations for Skubal. Woo and Ardaya report that the Dodgers are willing to package Zyhir Hope and Mike Sirota.
Hope, 21, has produced a slashline of .289/.367/.512 in 93 games in Double A. He ranks fifth on the Dodgers' top prospects list. Sirota, 23, is also in Double A and has produced a slash line of .325/.472/.539 across 52 games.
Though both names are serviceable for any prospect package, Hope is likely to get dealt more than Sirota, according to Woo and Ardaya.
Looking past Skubal for a second, the Dodgers will also be engaged in trade talks with teams interested in outfielder Alex Call and southpaw Eric Lauer. According to Woo and Ardaya, the Texas Rangers — who have been active in the trade market, acquiring reliever Chase Silseth — have seen Call as a fit.
On the flip side, the Philadelphia Phillies have also checked in on Call and were also heavily interested in his services last deadline.
For Lauer, the Dodgers believe that the market for starting pitchers will become clearer nearing the peak hours of the deadline. Lauer has been one of the most unlikely dependable pitchers for the Dodgers this season, posting a sub-three ERA across his nine starts with Los Angeles.
If the Dodgers decided to shy away from Skubal, they may pivot to New York Mets hurler Clay Holmes. Los Angeles sent out scouts to observe Holmes' latest rehab start, according to Will Sammon, Ken Rosenthal, and Woo of The Athletic.
The Dodgers like to focus on the bigger picture of setting themselves up for the most dependable group of pitchers heading into the postseason. Though there may be many suitors for Holmes, grabbing the attention of the Mets over the Dodgers, adding the right-hander could prove to be an energetic shock to a Dodgers pitching staff coming back to 100% health.
