This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Dodgers’ ‘Hanging Around the Backboard’ in Skubal Sweepstakes
As the MLB Trade Deadline draws closer to a close on Aug. 3, the pressure for a big push towards the playoffs mounts for a multitude of teams. With the clock close to measuring hours rather than days, sellers and buyers alike are working tirelessly behind the scenes.
With the most coveted name on the trade block in Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal up for grabs, a handful of teams are expected to "inquire" about the two-time Cy Young Award winner, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic .
The Tampa Bay Rays , Milwaukee Brewers , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees , and Los Angeles Dodgers are the five teams expected to check in on potentially acquiring Skubal's services.
Los Angeles has remained at the forefront of acquiring Skubal dating back to the 2024 deadline, but could potentially be "around the backboard” when talks amp up, according to Rosenthal. This cat-and-mouse approach has been the Dodgers' trump card, seemingly leading to the signings of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz in a historic winter last time out.
Or, on a more minuscule note, the Dodgers could "muddy the waters" on Skubal trade discussions with teams that could pose a threat, as Rosenthal mentioned. Still, the 67-39 Dodgers do not necessarily need Skubal.
With Blake Snell set to start in his last rehab appearance on Wednesday for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, Tyler Glasnow prepping to throw to live hitters one more time before going out on his own rehab assignment, and Shohei Ohtani set to throw sometime in August, Los Angeles could acquire all the pieces they need from a pitching standpoint, all from the Injured List.
Rosenthal reports that Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris will initially ask for "no exclusions" in Skubal trade talks. Harris is making it known to other ball clubs that nothing — current players or prospects — should be held back and that all cards are on the table.
Exactly one week ago, Rosenthal reported that the Tigers are primarily focused on acquiring a controllable starter from an interested team's rotation and named Dodgers' right-hander Emmet Sheehan as a forward option.
On the other hand, Los Angeles has more to offer on the 40-man roster, as Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that the Dodgers could make southpaw Eric Lauer and outfielder Alex Call available .
Regardless of where Skubal ends up, this is not a one-and-done conclusion for the Dodgers. They still have to claw their way and fight many teams tooth and nail in hopes of landing the Cy Young winner, even with the vast resources on the side of the back-to-back World Series Champions.
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DodgersHanging AroundBackboardSkubal SweepstakesThe Los Angeles DodgersTarik SkubalMLB Trade DeadlineAugWithDetroit TigersCy Young AwardKen Rosenthal
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