Dodgers have one last move up their sleeve to be hated by every sports fan

The Los Angeles Dodgers were already public enemy No. 1 heading into the upcoming season. LA is heading into 2026 having won back-to-back World Series titles with one of the best starting rotations in baseball, an obscene payroll, and a roster that includes three former MVPs — one of whom is the best player on the planet.

But the Dodgers' actions on Thursday night were proof that they not only want to be hated by the rest of the league — they aspire to be loathed. Los Angeles pulled off a stunner and signed free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract that immediately had every other fanbase throughout Major League Baseball screaming into the void once the news broke.

Dodgers fans know all too well the narrative surrounding their favorite team, but most see LA's approach as playing within the rules and using their resources to their advantage.

Speaking of which, there's one more shrewd move Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers' front office could pull off this offseason, and it would make the Tucker signing seem like nothing more than just another transaction. It's time for the Dodgers to fully embrace the role of sports villain and make a trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.

MLB fans would melt down if the Dodgers traded for Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal

Skuabl is a back-to-back Cy Young Award-winner and the best pitcher in baseball — though Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes might have something to say about that. Skubal has dominated the opposition over the past two seasons, posting a combined 2.30 ERA and striking out 469 batters over 387⅓ innings of work.

Skubal will be a free agent next offseason, and is currently locked in a contract dispute with Detroit Skubal filed for arbitration at $32 million and the Tigers countered at $19 million. The $13 million difference has captivated the entire baseball world, and many wonder what will happen if the Tigers lose in arbitration.

A $32 million payday for Skubal could crippled Detroit's efforts to build around their All-Star heading into 2026, and it may force the Tigers to get the most bang for their buck by trading him before the season gets underway. Given the Dodgers' depth of resources in the minor leagues, few teams would be able to match the type of trade package LA could put forward. As such, the Dodgers would be the favorites to land Skubal if the Tigers made his available.

If that happens, the rest of the league might just take their ball and go home. The Dodgers' continuous spending spree has fans in Los Angeles excited for the upcoming season, but the rest of baseball is begging for it to stop. If the Dodgers take that last step and swing a trade for the best pitcher in baseball, the fallout will be cataclysmic.