The Los Angeles Dodgers have completed a blockbuster trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, further strengthening the reigning champions' pitching staff ahead of the postseason. The move, confirmed late on Saturday night, was framed by the report as highlighting a wider imbalance in Major League Baseball, where a small number of wealthy franchises can repeatedly outbid rivals for elite talent at the trade deadline.

In return, the Dodgers sent outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit. Hope was ranked 26th overall among prospects in The Athletic's latest rankings, while Ryan was ranked 41st; Smith, described by Fangraphs as having "nasty stuff", had reportedly been striking out more than 14 batters per nine innings at minor league level in the week before the deal.