Dodgers ready to overcrowd rotation as interest in Tarik Skubal Plan B surfaces

Something could still change their minds at any moment, but for now it looks like the Tigers are keeping Tarik Skubal. The Dodgers were (to the surprise of no one) the team most actively connected to him around Winter Meetings, but for whatever reason, nothing has materialized yet.

The Dodgers have a full rotation and three backup options to use in swing roles, so giving up a heap of prospects and maybe even a few major leaguers to headline a trade seems like something they'd only do for a two-time Cy Young winner.

However, they might be willing to go that far for a one-time Cy Young candidate too. Brewers starter Freddy Peralta is of interest to the Dodgers, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Peralta has generated trade buzz basically from Day 1 of the offseason and seems far more likely to move than Skubal. The Brewers exercised their $8 million club option (a no-brainer) to keep him for one more year before he hits free agency, and that small a price tag for a two-time All-Star who earned Cy Young votes in 2025 could bring a significant haul back to Milwaukee, even as he's about to enter a walk year.

Dodgers expressing interest in Brewers ace Freddy Peralta as Tarik Skubal rumors die

Whatever the Brewers get for Peralta will pale in comparison to what the Tigers could get for Skubal, but Skubal is an exceptional case. With the way the trade market has been panning out for starting pitchers — the Red Sox gave up two top prospects and cash for 36-year-old Sonny Gray — it's still going to take a lot to get Peralta.

But the Dodgers have the ammo, and Peralta could be the perfect holdover while the Tigers wait for Skubal to hit free agency next offseason. There's always the possibility that the Tigers extend him before he can get to that point, but it's a very, very distant possibility.

The Dodgers simply do not care about looking greedy, and that's what we love about them. No doubt one or even two of those excess arms (Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, River Ryan) would head to Milwaukee in a Peralta trade, but that still leaves more pitchers than the Dodgers strictly need.

No matter who the Dodgers get, even if it's a low-cost, fixer-upper reliever, they're going to be accused of gluttony away. Why not go whole hog?