Meet the Three New Tigers Behind the Tarik Skubal Deal

There is Tarik Skubal has been moved to the team that was considered the most likely destination. 

According to Jeff Passan’s report, the Dodgers are acquiring Tarik Skubal for outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith. The clubs had not yet formally announced the trade at the time of the initial report, so it remains subject to medical reviews and the usual completion process.

My immediate reaction The Tigers did not get fleeced, but this is not an overwhelming return that immediately softens the loss of one of the best pitchers in baseball. Detroit acquired one legitimate high-end position-player prospect, one talented but medically risky major league-ready pitcher and an intriguing lower-level arm.

That is a defensible return for a player headed toward free agency after the season. It is also a package carrying considerable risk.

Hope is the player Tigers fans should focus on first.

The 21-year-old left-handed hitter is currently playing at Double-A and ranks fifth in the Dodgers’ system according to MLB Pipeline, with an estimated major league arrival in 2027. Pipeline gives him above-average or better grades for his power, speed, arm and defense, including a 60 power grade.

Hope has a compact, powerful build and generates impressive exit velocities. The offensive upside is significant enough for him to develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter capable of playing center field or moving to a corner while providing strong defensive value.

There is swing-and-miss risk, particularly against pitches above and below the strike zone. That is what separates Hope from the elite tier of prospects. The Tigers are betting that his athleticism, power and improving approach will allow him to make enough contact.

He is also arriving at the right time. Hope hit .372 with a .439 on-base percentage and .745 slugging percentage in July, producing 10 home runs and 28 RBIs in 23 games. He finished the month with a two-homer performance for Double-A Tulsa.

The best-case outcome is an everyday outfielder with 25-home run potential, speed and defensive versatility. The concern is that the strikeout rate eventually pushes him toward a lower batting average and a corner-outfield profile.

Ryan is the most complicated player in the return.

At 27, he is not a traditional young prospect. He has already reached the majors, recording a 1.33 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 20⅓ innings during four starts for Los Angeles in 2024.

The raw stuff is legitimate. Ryan reached 100.9 mph during a Triple-A start this season and averaged 98.6 mph with his fastball that night. He also possesses a hard slider, a power curveball and a changeup that gives him an option against left-handed hitters.

However, Ryan underwent Tommy John surgery after his brief 2024 major league appearance. He returned this season but has twice landed on the injured list with hamstring trouble and has not pitched since late June.

Ryan could eventually settle into Detroit’s rotation as a power-armed No. 3 starter. He could also become a high-leverage reliever if durability or workload limitations prevent him from starting consistently.

Tigers fans should not view him as Skubal’s immediate rotation replacement. He will first need to complete his rehabilitation, rebuild his workload and prove he can remain healthy.

Smith is the lottery ticket, although that description may undersell his current trajectory.

The 21-year-old was a third-round selection in 2023 but underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after signing. His professional debut was delayed until 2025, and he has only recently reached High-A.

His fastball generally sits between 93 and 96 mph and can reach 98. His best secondary pitch is a fading changeup that MLB Pipeline grades as a potential plus offering. He also throws a slider, cutter and curveball, although his command and the consistency of those pitches remain works in progress.

Smith recently produced 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings over his Class A work and was promoted to High-A in July. He allowed one run across 5⅓ innings in his second High-A appearance.

The upside is a mid-rotation starter with a deep arsenal. The more conservative projection is a power reliever whose fastball-changeup combination can miss bats.

Detroit entered Sunday at 53-58, fourth in the American League Central and still close enough to the race that the Tigers could argue there was a path back into contention. That may remain true even if Casey Mize is also moved, but the Skubal trade shows the organization is looking beyond the final two months of this season.

For two months of a player before free agency, I like the return. The Tigers acquired a high-upside position player in Zyhir Hope, added another young pitching prospect in Brady Smith and took a chance on a pitcher in River Ryan who has already shown he can get major league hitters out.

Ryan is also the part of the deal that gives me the most concern.

The talent is there, but so is the injury history. He has already undergone Tommy John surgery and has dealt with additional physical setbacks during his return. If Ryan stays healthy, he could become an important part of Detroit’s rotation. If he cannot, a large portion of the value in this trade will rest on Hope reaching his ceiling.

The Tigers clearly prioritized upside and years of club control rather than searching for an established major league starter. Hope could become part of the next competitive lineup, Ryan could help sooner if healthy and Smith gives the organization another arm to develop after several of its better pitching prospects have graduated from the system.

There are still reasons to be cautious about the return.

Detroit did not receive a consensus top-10 prospect in baseball. It did not acquire a proven young major league regular, a healthy and immediate replacement for Skubal or a second premium position-player prospect. Ryan is out with a hamstring injury so it until the deadline is officially over on Monday, Detroit still needs to address the bullpen, among other minor things. 

That keeps me from calling the package a massive return. However, considering the Tigers were trading approximately two months of Skubal rather than multiple seasons of control, it is a deal I can understand and one I like.

The final evaluation will depend heavily on Hope’s development and Ryan’s health. Hope gives the Tigers a potential impact bat. Ryan gives them immediate upside, but also the greatest risk in the deal.

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