Dodgers-Tigers Tarik Skubal trade rumors might actually be getting serious now

Los Angeles Dodgers fans, buckle up. What felt like another round of “MLB offseason rumor roulette” might actually be turning into something with teeth. And yes — that something involves Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, the best left-handed pitcher on planet Earth and the crown jewel of the Detroit Tigers’ roster.

All week long, we’ve joked about the rumor mill: David Pingalore firing off grenades from Winter Meetings, Tigers fans screaming into the void, reporters pushing back, and everyone else trying to figure out whether this is legit or just offseason chaos energy.

But now? ESPN's Jorge Castillo — someone Dodgers fans actually trust — says the most interesting thing he heard at the Meetings is this "that a Tarik Skubal trade is likely."

Not “possible.”
Not “being discussed.”
Not “fun for engagement.”

Likely.

And the justification is exactly what Dodgers fans were waiting for: Scott Harris has had every opportunity to slam the door shut on Skubal rumors. Instead, he’s opened the door wider with each interview. “No untouchables.” “We’ll listen.” “We evaluate everything.” It’s all GM-speak for: "If someone floors us, he’s yours."

Then came David Vassegh — who is as plugged in with the Dodgers as anyone — saying the Tigers are asking for a Juan Soto 2022–level package. A Soto package! The kind of massive, franchise-altering deal that only a handful of teams can even consider.

The Dodgers? Yeah. They’re absolutely one of those teams.

And let’s be honest: when Detroit mentions “Soto package,” that’s not them bluffing. That’s them signaling to the teams that can match it — like the Dodgers — and seeing who’s ready to push in the heavy chips.

Meanwhile, the Tigers fan base is in meltdown mode because trading Skubal while trying to compete makes zero sense emotionally … but also might make too much sense logically for a front office that knows he’ll likely walk next winter. They want to be competitive — but they also don’t want to lose a $400 million pitcher for a comp pick.

Tarik Skubal-to-Dodgers rumors gaining traction amid reports that a Tigers trade is "likely"

This is exactly how blockbuster trades start: The front office goes quiet, the insiders get louder, leak wars begin, the ask comes out, and suddenly the whole league realizes, “Oh. This is actually on the table.”

And if it is on the table? The Dodgers are in the strongest position of anyone — a loaded farm system, controllable young big-league arms, top-tier prospects, and the money to extend Skubal the moment he lands at LAX.

This isn’t fantasy. This isn’t chaos posting. This is two things coming together at the exact right moment:

The Tigers facing the harsh reality that they can’t extend Skubal and won’t get equal value as a rental, and the Dodgers being the one team with the prospects, the need, the budget and the boldness to actually pull off a Soto-scale blockbuster for an ace who instantly makes them World Series favorites. Again.

Less than a week ago, Skubal-to-LA felt like noise. But today? With Castillo calling a trade “likely,” Harris refusing to shut it down, and Detroit floating a Soto-tier ask? This might be very, very real. And if Andrew Friedman decides to go nuclear … the dynasty window is about to blow wide open.