The Los Angeles Dodgers may be keeping a close eye on a significant development after Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers missed the Jan. 8 deadline to settle a contract and avoid arbitration.
ESPN reports the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner is aiming for a record $32 million in salary arbitration. Meanwhile, the Tigers responded with a $19 million offer, setting up a potential $13 million gap if the case reaches a hearing.
Moreover, the ESPN report notes that although the parties could settle before a February hearing, the Tigers’ history as a “file-and-trial” team makes it likely Detroit will take the case to a hearing, setting up a head-to-head clash.
With Skubal’s relationship with the Tigers potentially getting rocky if it does indeed go to trial, it could open the door for a team to swoop in with a trade offer. On Jan. 8, CBS Sports MLB writer Matt Snyder made an appearance on CBS Sports HQ and noted that if Detroit were to trade Skubal, the likeliest destination would be the Dodgers.
“I think [the Tigers should] shoot [their] shot with one year of Skubal and then say, ‘We’ll see you later after this year,'” Snyder said. “I could totally be wrong on that. If he does go, I feel like the most likely destination is the Dodgers.
“I’ll also say, like you can see the Yankees jumping on there. You could see the Mets. You could see the Cubs. By no means would it be just the Dodgers, but I do think that if the Tigers are serious about trading him before the season starts, the most likely trading candidate would be the Dodgers.”
Dodgers Insider Gives Latest on Kyle Tucker
The Dodgers playing the waiting game could benefit them as a potential landing spot for Skubal, whether via trade or if the player heads to free agency. However, that same approach could also help them with free-agent hitter Kyle Tucker.
On the Jan. 7 edition of “Dodgers Territory,” Katie Woo, who covers Los Angeles for The Athletic, shared what she knows regarding the team’s interest in Tucker as spring training nears.
“A shorter-term deal is the only way Kyle Tucker is going to come to LA,” Woo said. “Now I’m not sure if that same logic applies to the Mets or the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are having a very Dodgers-esque offseason anyway. I don’t think we can rule anything out. We certainly saw that with Edwin Diaz.
“I mean, the day before the signing happened, [Dodgers executive vice president and general manager] Brandon Gomes was saying that the Dodgers felt they were really good about their bullpen and didn’t feel like they needed to make any additions. The Dodgers don’t need to make any additions in their outfield, but they certainly are capable of doing so, and that’s what makes them dangerous.”
Kyle Tucker Could Be Forced to Pivot to a Short-Term Contract
Moreover, Woo noted that as the MLB calendar approaches spring training, the Dodgers could become a serious player for Tucker, who might need to re-evaluate his options if it comes to that.
“If we get closer and closer to spring training, again, just roughly a month away, and these deals start to fall, is there any team better suited to offer a short-term, high-AAV deal than the Los Angeles Dodgers? I would say no,” Woo added. “And that’s why Kyle Tucker seems to garner so much interest here.
“We talked about it already on the show. [The Dodgers] wanted outfield help. They wanted to make some additions there… But if the price point falls in terms of years, expect the Dodgers to be a much bigger play. We’re going to hear more about them for Kyle Tucker.”
Dodgers Hit With Huge Tarik Skubal Take Amid Arbitration News