Harris Defends Tarik Skubal Trade After Tigers Ace Yields Three-Prospect Return

Detroit Tigers president Scott Harris finalized the Tarik Skubal trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers 36 hours before the deadline, acquiring Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith.

Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris finalized the Tarik Skubal trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, securing a package headlined by outfield prospect Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. The move comes as Skubal, the reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, enters the final three months of his contract before hitting free agency. From 2024 to 2025, Skubal posted a 31-10 record with a 2.30 ERA, recording 469 strikeouts across 387⅓ innings and leading all major league pitchers with 12.6 FanGraphs wins above replacement. In 16 starts during the 2024 campaign, the left-hander maintained a 2.79 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 14 walks in 96⅔ innings, including a 2.03 ERA in July following a six-week recovery from a NanoScope procedure on his elbow.

Harris dismissed criticism regarding the timing of the deal, which was completed a day and a half before the official trade deadline. The Tigers president stated that the involved organizations reached a point of "audible pain" with their final offers, making it unnecessary to wait for the final 24 to 48 hours. While the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers were also deep in negotiations for the ace, Detroit opted for the Dodgers' proposal. Harris identified River Ryan as a potential front-of-the-rotation starter expected to join the major league roster in September. He further characterized Brady Smith as a projectable starter possessing an elite changeup and lauded Zyhir Hope for his bat-to-ball skills and power-speed combination.

Detroit’s Mid-Season Collapse and Roster Shift

The decision to move Skubal followed a volatile season where Detroit initially aimed to win the AL Central. After a devastating 6-22 record in May—which tied for the worst mark in the major leagues—the team rallied to win 28 of their next 46 games. However, momentum stalled following back-to-back losses to the last-place Kansas City Royals on July 25 and 26, followed by losing two of three games to the Baltimore Orioles. These results prompted Harris to pivot toward trading veterans, including starting pitcher Casey Mize. Mize, who is also approaching free agency, was sent to the San Diego Padres in exchange for 2024 first-round selection Kash Mayfield.

Despite these departures, the Tigers (54-58) remained just 2½ games out of a postseason berth at the time of the deadline. To maintain a competitive stance, Harris declined to trade second baseman Gleyber Torres or closer Kenley Jansen, noting that the trade returns did not outweigh their current impact. The organization also promoted top prospect Max Clark to play center field to bolster the active roster. Harris took personal responsibility for the team's position as sellers, stating the failure to make a compelling case for keeping the roster intact fell on his shoulders rather than the players or coaching staff.

Contract Negotiations and Market Dynamics

Negotiations for a long-term extension between the Tigers and Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, were unsuccessful prior to the trade. Harris confirmed the team approached Skubal’s camp about a deal, but the pitcher expressed a firm desire to test the open market. Skubal is expected to seek the largest contract ever awarded to a starting pitcher in free agency. Harris defended the player's right to explore his value, noting that Skubal should not be criticized for exercising that option after his elite performance on the mound.

In justifying the return for a generational talent, Harris referenced historical trades involving Pete Crow-Armstrong and Zack Wheeler as examples of high-impact talent acquired for players nearing free agency. While the Dodgers system contains four outfield prospects graded higher than Hope, Harris maintained that the specific traits of the acquired trio offered the necessary ceiling to impact the organization long-term. He described the market for top-tier players as unique, requiring a deep understanding of every organization's offerings rather than simply waiting for the final seconds of the deadline clock to expire.