Breaking Down BLOCKBUSTER Tarik Skubal Trade to LA DODGERS, Detroit Tigers’ Return

Nicholas Kohloff | Detroit Tigers Beat Reporter | Woodward Sports

Blockbuster Trade!

A blockbuster goes down in MLB as the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal gets traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for OF Zhir Hope, RHP River Ryan, and RHP Brady Smith. I heard they were interested in trying to trade for Victor Wembanyama as well…

Back-to-Back x2

The AL back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal gets to team up with the back-to-back World Series champion superteam Los Angeles Dodgers as they seek to become the first National League team ever to win three straight World Series titles. After acquiring Tarik Skubal, big shocker… they will.

With a team full of superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, to name a few, it’s insane to say, but Tarik Skubal will not be the best player on his team. To be honest, I hope they run through the Milwaukee Brewers in four games to put them to shame for not being willing to move off pitcher Logan Henderson, as some rumors stated, and give up the prospects it would’ve taken to get a Skubal deal done.

Zhir Hope

This trade package is headlined by the No. 25 prospect in all of baseball, OF Zhir Hope, according to MLB Pipeline! This kid has unbelievable pop in the bat that projects like he can hit 30-plus bombs a year in the Major Leagues, and I am honestly expecting this kid to make an All-Star Game and become a core piece of the future alongside Max Clark and future Rookie of the Year Kevin McGonigle.

The plus bat has produced 23 home runs, 17 doubles, and one triple for a total of 41 extra-base hits in just 94 games. To go along with his plus power, Hope has 18 stolen bases so far this season and swiped 27 bags in 2025.

This is a great headliner for the deal, and I expect him to start the season as your everyday right fielder (if there is one) for the Detroit Tigers, with a serious chance to win Rookie of the Year in 2027. His arm grades out at 60, which is considered plus quality, and he has the speed and athleticism to thrive if he gets everyday reps in right field moving forward.

RHP River Ryan

River Ryan is maybe the oldest prospect of all time, being 27 and turning 28 on August 17. The guy is older than me, which typically isn’t a good sign. BUT when you dig a little deeper, you see why he is ranked the No. 68 prospect in all of baseball.

In 2024, before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery, he posted a 1.33 ERA in four starts while logging 20.1 innings. The upside is definitely there. With Tommy John surgery behind him, hopefully the arm holds up. He’s currently dealing with a hamstring injury that has him out, but he’s headed to Toledo.

If he can get healthy, I expect him to be with the Detroit Tigers within the next 20 days, hopefully helping solidify this rotation as a high-upside arm with a fiery fastball, a good curveball, and an elite slider. He also throws a cutter and a changeup. If he stays healthy, I think you’re looking at at least a No. 4 starter with the upside to post an ERA south of 3.00, which would be elite.

RHP Brady Smith

Brady Smith is interesting, to say the least, and don’t think he’s just a throw-in here. He immediately cracks the Tigers’ top 15 prospects, coming in at No. 14 according to MLB.com, and the big reason is the strikeouts.

Smith has racked up an insane 113 strikeouts in just 74.1 innings. Incredible numbers to work with. He just has to lower that 4.36 ERA to below 4.00, and I expect he can move through the minors rather quickly.

As he makes his debut with the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps, I will certainly be keeping my eye on him, with expectations of seeing him in Detroit by 2028.

Overall Grade…

The Detroit Tigers are never winning this trade because you don’t replace Tarik Skubal, the best pitcher on the planet. But getting two top-70 prospects and a high-upside arm that already slots into your top 15 is a good haul for Skubal.

Between OF Zhir Hope having the potential to become an All-Star in right field, SP River Ryan having the upside to be a quality starter when healthy, and Brady Smith’s crazy strikeout numbers, I like the trade.

River Ryan’s injury history is a concern for me, and because of that, along with his age, I grade the Tarik Skubal trade package a solid B.

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The Author

Nicholas Kohloff
Detroit Tigers Beat Reporter | Woodward Sports

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