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Tigers Trade Ace Skubal to Dodgers for Hope, Two Pitchers

8/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Tigers traded ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris said the trade was forced by Skubal’s free-agency intent, called a 24-48-hour wait “garbage,” and noted the Tigers were 54-58, 2.5 games back.
Harris projected Skubal could debut Tuesday against the Cubs and command the largest free-agency contract ever for a starter.

History

Historical Context

The modern Tigers-Dodgers swap echoes the 1976 free-agency breakthrough that began when arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled on December 23 1975 that players could leave after one year without a contract. That decision freed Andy Messier and Dave McNally on March 16 1976, ending the reserve clause and reshaping roster building, a dynamic still felt in today’s trades.

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Story summary

The Tigers traded ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris said the trade was forced by Skubal’s free-agency intent, called a 24-48-hour wait “garbage,” and noted the Tigers were 54-58, 2.5 games back.
Harris projected Skubal could debut Tuesday against the Cubs and command the largest free-agency contract ever for a starter.

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