Los Angeles Dodgers eye ace pitcher Tarik Skubal in upcoming trade deadline talks

The Los Angeles Dodgers are viewed as a top candidate to acquire left‑hander Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline. Skubal, who posted a 2.70 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 43.1 innings this season, will become a free agent after 2026, and the Dodgers could add him as a rental or a longer‑term asset to bolster a rotation that is aiming for a third consecutive World Series title. Analysts suggest the Dodgers might trade a top prospect and possibly a ready‑to‑play arm to secure Skubal, while being mindful of the cost of a potential $300 million contract he may seek in free agency.

Separately, the St. Louis Cardinals are rumored to consider moving outfielder Lars Nootbaar, a 28‑year‑old with one year left on his contract, as a possible trade chip in the same deadline window. The Cardinals, like other NL Central teams, are weighing whether to add short‑term value without mortgaging long‑term assets.