Tigers fans already know why the Dodgers' didn't wreck Mets' Freddy Peralta trade

With each trade of a starting pitcher, it seems to be a referendum on the Detroit Tigers and their situation with Tarik Skubal. Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore were both traded this week, and while the Los Angeles Dodgers were never strongly connected to Gore, there were recent reports suggesting they were making a push for Peralta.

The Milwaukee Brewers were facing a similar situation with Peralta that the Tigers are in with Skubal. There wasn't an expectation that the Brewers would re-sign their All-Star ace once he became a free agent next offseason, so as they do best, they turned to the trade market to cash in on his value.

Peralta was traded to the Mets in a deal that saw New York part with top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. It was a deal that catapulted Milwaukee to having the best farm system in all of baseball, and yet, it felt like one the Dodgers could have easily topped.

On the same day that the Dodgers introduced Kyle Tucker, just hours before Peralta was traded, Andrew Friedman suggested that Los Angeles was no longer in the market for starting pitching upgrades.

Dodgers' smoke screen is only them waiting out the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal

Between Friedman's comments and the Dodgers steering away from trading for Peralta, Tigers fans likely have the impression that Skubal's future, at least through the 2026 season, will be in Detroit.

That certainly might be the case, but it's also entirely possible the reason why the Dodgers didn't beat the Mets' offer for Peralta is that they want to hold onto their prospect capital if Skubal becomes available ahead of the trade deadline in July.

The only thing that might keep Skubal from ending the season in LA is if the Tigers are in contention throughout the duration of the regular season. The American League Central isn't vastly different from the 2025 season. The biggest changes have been made with the Chicago White Sox, but even then, the White Sox might still be a year or two away from contending.

Even with little done to upgrade their roster, the Tigers should be in contention in the division. That is the only reason why the Dodgers are lurking in the background. They don't have a clear path to Skubal, but they aren't going to pivot to lesser targets until the door is completely closed.