Scott Harris can't fall for Dodgers trap if Tigers trade Tarik Skubal

The Dodgers might not be the only team who could afford to pry Tarik Skubal away from the Tigers at the trade deadline, but there's a reason they're the odds-on favorite to land him if Detroit's hand is forced by the Aug. 3 deadline. Their prospect depth is overwhelming, and they have absolutely no need for most of that talent.

LA's farm system is for one thing: making trades exactly like a potential Skubal deal. They have 12 outfielders ranked in their top-30 (Nos. 1-4 are all outfielders) and nowhere to put all of them. They have more ranked or formerly ranked pitchers than they have any need for. Right now, they have the luxury of running a six-man rotation and still might be hoarding some of their most promising talent in the minors.

So if the Dodgers come calling (and they will), Scott Harris could have his pick of the litter. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman won't let himself be taken advantage of — this is one of the savviest executives in the game — but if he really wants Skubal, he's going to have to make an impression.

The Tigers would probably want a controllable pitcher back in any deal, and the Dodgers have those in spades.

Jim Bowden named Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski, but "if the Dodgers balk at offering either," prospects River Ryan or Christian Zazueta.

Either of Sheehan or Ryan would be solid enough returns, but if Harris is feeling daring, demanding Wrobleski-or-bust could be ideal.

Tigers shouldn't let Dodgers get away with Tarik Skubal without receiving Justin Wrobleski

It took a while for Wrobleski to find his footing in the majors. Last year, he appeared in 24 games but only made two starts and even finished nine games, when LA's bullpen was in absolutely dire straits. 2025 is the first year the Dodgers are using him as a fully-fledged starter, given Blake Snell's many injuries, and he's occasionally been unhittable.

Through 10 games (nine starts), Wrobleski has a 2.87 ERA. He was struggling to rack up strikeouts in his first month or so, but the swing-and-miss has ramped up in his last four starts. His last time out, he pitched seven innings of one-run baseball with nine Ks against the Phillies.

Sheehan has been battling velocity issues this season, Ryan has yet to come back to the majors after Tommy John, and Zazueta is a mostly unknown quantity.

Wrobleski has the experience and the years of team control. The Dodgers have already done all the experimenting they've wanted to do with him. He very well could be a frontline arm in the making.

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