The Los Angeles Dodgers were busy at the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline.
They made four significant deals in the lead-up to the July 30 deadline and patched some of the biggest holes on their roster. While the moves were plenty, none were Earth-shattering compared to one rumored trade LA was in on.
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal became a hot name for rumors a few weeks before the deadline. The Dodgers with their need for starting pitching, financial flexibility, and deep farm system became a logical landing spot in a potential Skubal trade.
Skubal boasts an MLB-best 2.35 ERA and an MLB-best 183 ERA+ (ballpark adjusted ERA). In 21 starts he has pitched 130 innings, logging 154 strikeouts and only 24 walks. He has been sensational in every respect for the last two seasons. It would've been a seismic shift in the National League playoff race had the Dodgers landed him.
It also never came close to happening.
On Wednesday, Tigers general manager Scott Harris spoke to reporters in a press conference. He swiftly and flatly denied that Detroit was close to trading its ace.
"Not close," Harris said. "There are a lot of rumors that floated out there. There are a lot of 'unconfirmed reports' that are just totally inaccurate. We never came close to trading Skubal."
This could be written off as 'GM speak.' Harris would have plenty of reasons to deny it had the club been active in trade talks for the Cy Young candidate. A report from Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times confirmed Harris' declaration.
The one player who could have transformed the team’s outlook on his own was Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, who wasn’t available “in any scenario,” according to a person familiar with the Dodgers’ trade deadline discussions. The Tigers “wouldn’t talk about Skubal at all,” the person said.
It was right of the Dodgers to turn over every potential stone in their search for starting pitchers. It was also right of the Tigers to hold on to Skubal if they aim to contend in the near future.
Instead of Skubal, LA landed Tigers starter Jack Flaherty. He's a nice consolation prize after his strong first half. He's also a tier or two below Skubal in terms of quality.
The Dodgers swung for the fences in asking about Skubal. It's hard to say they missed. They just swung at a pitch that wasn't there.
More MLB: Newly acquired Dodger gives promising update on his rehab assignment
