Harris Defends Tarik Skubal Trade After Tigers Receive Three Dodgers Prospects

Detroit Tigers president Scott Harris finalized the Tarik Skubal trade 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 three-player return headlined by outfield prospect Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. The deal moved the reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, who posted a 31-10 record and a 2.30 ERA between 2024 and 2025. During that two-year span, Skubal recorded 469 strikeouts across 387⅓ innings and led all major league pitchers with 12.6 FanGraphs wins above replacement. In 16 starts during the current 2026 campaign, the left-hander maintained a 2.79 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 14 walks over 96⅔ innings, including a 2.03 ERA in July following a six-week absence for a NanoScope procedure on his elbow.

In a videoconference following the deadline, Harris dismissed the suggestion that Detroit should have waited an additional 24 to 48 hours to maximize value. He noted that the involved organizations had already reached their maximum offers, describing the negotiations as reaching a point of "audible pain." The trade occurred a day and a half before the deadline because Harris believed the market for top-tier players does not reward waiting until the final second. While the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers were also involved in deep conversations, Harris opted for the Dodgers' package, even though Los Angeles reportedly has four outfield prospects ranked higher in its system than Hope.

Scouting the New Detroit Prospects

Zyhir Hope joins the Tigers organization with Harris praising his combination of power, speed, and bat-to-ball skills. Harris specifically highlighted Hope's ability to execute big-league at-bats. River Ryan is projected as a front-of-the-rotation starter and is expected to join the Tigers' major league roster this September. The third piece of the return, Brady Smith, is described as a projectable starting pitcher characterized by an elite changeup. Harris compared the potential impact of these acquisitions to past trades involving Pete Crow-Armstrong and Zack Wheeler, though he clarified he was not guaranteeing identical career trajectories.

Roster Decisions and May Slump

The decision to sell followed a season that began with AL Central title aspirations but was derailed by a 6-22 record in May. Although the Tigers recovered to win 28 of their next 46 games, consecutive losses to the last-place Kansas City Royals on July 25 and 26, followed by losing two of three to the Baltimore Orioles, solidified the front office's direction. Alongside the Skubal move, the Tigers sent starting pitcher Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres in exchange for 2024 first-round pick Kash Mayfield. Despite these departures, Harris retained second baseman Gleyber Torres and closer Kenley Jansen, stating that the trade offers for the pending free agents did not justify the loss of their on-field impact.

Skubal’s Path to Free Agency

Skubal, represented by agent Scott Boras, is set to enter free agency in three months with the objective of signing the largest contract ever for a starting pitcher. Harris confirmed that the Tigers previously approached Skubal regarding a contract extension, but the pitcher expressed a firm desire to test the open market. The Tigers currently hold a 54-58 record and sit 2½ games out of a postseason berth. To bolster the current lineup, the team recently promoted top prospect Max Clark to play center field. Harris accepted personal responsibility for the team's position, stating it was his job to ensure the roster did not necessitate trading away generational talents.