Why all top-five MLB contenders, including Dodgers, could use Tarik Skubal
Each week, the California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race.With the MLB trade deadline on Monday, this week’s rundown also looks at how the landscape may change when all the dealing’s done.
Records as of Saturday morning.The Dodgers are already the best team in baseball.Now, the rest of the sport is waiting to see if they will add Tarik Skubal to their collection of star talent, too.
Even if they don’t, of course, the defending two-time champions will be clear-cut favorites for a third straight title.Even with Shohei Ohtani still battling his knee injury, Edwin Díaz and Kiké Hernández are back, with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Will Smith not far behind.
(Last week: 1st)Another player in the Skubal sweepstakes, the Brewers certainly have more of a need for the two-time Cy Young winner.While Jacob Misiorowski has bounced back from his All-Star-break arm fatigue, the rest of their rotation remains banged up.
It has slowed their roll for now.But without many big stars in the lineup, the more star pitching they can get, the better.
(Last week: 2nd)The Skubal contenders keep on coming.Like the Brewers, the Rays could use another ace-caliber pitcher to bolster their World Series chances.
But, like the Brewers, they are a small-market team typically opposed to mortgaging the future on rental players.Unlike the Brewers, at least, the Dodgers aren’t standing in the way of them at least reaching the World Series.
(Last week: 3rd)Did we mention that Skubal is a coveted commodity? The Braves could be a dark horse in the bidding, too, thanks to their depth of young pitching and need for another front-line option to pair with Chris Sale in the rotation.The good news for them for now, at least, is that the fading Phillies have fallen eight games behind them in the NL East standings.
(Last week: 4th)How about one last Skubal contender to round out the top five? The Cubs have the most glaring hole of the group at t...