ORLANDO — The MLB Winter Meets 2025 is becoming the hottest rumor battle of the season — and the focus is none other than Tarik Skubal. Over the past few days, forums have been buzzing with activity as fans on both Detroit and Los Angeles sides of the field have been glued to their phones, with rumors circulating that the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers have been in serious talks about a major trade for the star pitcher.
Skubal, 29, is one of MLB’s top aces, having just won his second consecutive AL Cy Young award after an outstanding 2025 season with a winning streak. With only one year left on his contract, he’s become a top target in the trade market — and the Dodgers, desperate for talent to maintain their championship ambitions, aren’t missing out.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Tigers have been in dangerous contact with the Dodgers regarding a trade, sparking widespread speculation and heated debate among fans and MLB experts. Nightengale claims the Tigers were “surprised that other teams were interested in the Dodgers’ trade, thus triggering speculation about a potential compromise.”
However, not all reports are conclusive. Some MLB insiders, notably Robert Murray, have decided that a potential trade for Skubal to the Dodgers isn’t quite there yet, even “nothing realistic at this point.” This creates the feeling of an endless trade saga.
With two AL Cy Young Awards, Skubal is one of the most outstanding players currently available. This makes him a target not only for the Dodgers, but also for many other teams eager for this pitching prowess before the new season begins.
However, the Detroit Tigers are in a difficult position: keeping Skubal could boost their chances of winning a championship in 2026, but he’s set to enter the auto-dealing phase, and the Tigers could lose him without getting the maximum value if they don’t trade him immediately. This has led the head of baseball operations, Scott Harris, to create a public and media buzz. He has repeatedly stressed that the hero isn’t “untouchable”—meaning he’s open to considering any offer—but hasn’t confirmed what he’ll do with Skubal.
The Dodgers, champions with ambitions to maintain their top position, are reportedly carefully considering their options before launching a massive trade package that could include many valuable young talents and prospects ready for MLB. Options like Tyler Glasnow—the very name being discussed as part of the trade—are making the story hotter than ever.
Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes hasn’t publicly confirmed Skubal, but reports suggest LA is ready to “kick the bucket” and consider trades if the Tigers want to make a move. This has left Dodgers fans on edge, imagining a potential trade of Skubal along with other key pitchers — a quantity enough to scare any team.
The news of Skubal potentially joining the Dodgers has thrown Tigers into a state of “Schrödinger’s trade”: the news has been both exaggerated and denied almost simultaneously. Some fans are calling for Skubal to be kept in contention for a championship in 2026, while others worry that the Tigers should trade him now to maximize his value.
On the Los Angeles side, fans are dreaming of a potential Cy Young joining the roster and taking the Dodgers one step further to the World Series — but remain cautious as nothing has been confirmed yet.
At this point, the Tarik Skubal — Dodgers rumor isn’t a certainty, but it’s enough to cause the biggest shock of the 2025 Winter Meets. With the Tigers caught between player and trade, and the Dodgers willing to pay a high price to add a top-tier ace to their roster, this could be the biggest question of the season before the market closes.
One thing is certain: all eyes are on Skubal and the Tigers’ next decision — because the 2026 season could be decided now.
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