Diamondbacks fans react as Dodgers land Cy Young ace Tarik Skubal in blockbuster move

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired the biggest prize on the trade deadline market, getting two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

Skubal got the news during the Tigers’ 8-6 win over the Athletics and was emotional after the game as he prepared to leave the team that drafted him in 2018. Detroit developed him into a star and now he’ll join the two-time defending World Series champions.

“I’m excited to be a Dodger,” he said. “I’m excited to get down there and meet all those guys and chase three championships in a row. That’s hard to do, so I’m so excited to a part of that. But it’s a lot of different emotions. Definitely kind of a roller coaster a little bit.”

Skubal is the latest star to join the high-priced roster for the Dodgers that already has big-name players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Mookie Betts. If everyone is healthy, he could be part of a rotation with Ohtani, reigning World Series MVP Yamamoto, fellow two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. The Dodgers lead the majors with a 3.36 ERA from their starting pitchers and now add Skubal to the mix.

The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West and were already the favorites to become the first team to three-peat since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000 before adding Skubal. They began the season with a $323.3 million opening-day payroll for their 40-man roster and a $163.7 million tax for a $487.1 million total. They will pay Skubal about $9.5 million for the remainder of the season.

ESPN first reported the deal and said the Tigers would receive three minor league prospects in right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith and outfielder Zyhir Hope.

Skubal is eligible for free agency after the World Series. He has a $32 million salary, a record total in arbitration, after the team offered $19 million, and is expected to sign a massive contract in the offseason.

Diamondbacks fans react to Skubal trade

Shortly after the Skubal news broke, Diamondbacks fans took to X to voice their frustration.

We didn’t realize it at the time, but the Dbacks sweeping the Dodgers in 2023 has led to the downfall of baseball

— Mick (@Mick_Signa) August 2, 2026

River Ryan is 28 LOLOL wouldn’t be a top prospect anywhere else but the Dodgers propaganda machine…. Pathetic return for DET. https://t.co/GBJZcfiWqp

— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) August 2, 2026

Like, am I the only one who thinks baseball has to go to a hard cap now? This is ridiculous & ban deferred money? Idk, but this is whack.

— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) August 2, 2026

skubal getting traded for the equivalent of 4 tall boy surfsides to klarna’s favorite team and people will tell you baseball isn’t dead

— sav (@pprivateidaho) August 2, 2026

Someone in my IG Comment section just said that it’s “Going to be tough only watching banana-ball next season” after the Skubal news 😭

— Arizona Snakes (@ArizonaSnakes) August 2, 2026

The dodgers had one homegrown player in tonight’s starting lineup. Incredible farm system. https://t.co/g3DBbtUA9Q

— Misery Man #FireLovullo (@sundevil9314) August 2, 2026

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ https://t.co/z3WZV4R5ic

— Bailey Leasure (@Leasure96) August 2, 2026

If you’re a Dodgers fan celebrating this trade that’s all well and good but just know the sport is gonna be put on hold because of YOUR team.

I’m ok with those that say “I know it’s bad for MLB but I’m gonna root for my team.” I get that.

Let’s just leave the gaslighting about…

— Damon (@DamonDawg) August 2, 2026

Snakes in 7

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) August 2, 2026

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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