Skubal to Dodgers

[CB3UK]

Well...we offloaded Lowe and Ferguson. Way to go Krall! What a ******* clown show the Reds are. Why do I bother?

 

[Hitman206]

As others have been saying, this move just pushes the lockout even further. I saw a joke earlier that Detroit did this to help the lock out anyways lol.

The funny thing in all of this, is that Baseball is probably the hardest sport to buy a championship. Essentially this same Dodgers team was on the brink of losing the world series 4-2. They're only at a .622 winning percentage (compare that to every other sports best teams or biggest spenders). If any teams in the NFL had just a 25% pay roll advantage, theyd probanly go undefeated. Same with the NBA.

My point is, teams like the Reds and the A's dont neccesarily have to spend like the Mets to put out a winning team that people want to see. If an owner cant spend some money for its own fans, and leave a lasting image on your city, than sell the damn team.

Will Smith has missed almost a month with an inflamed disk in his neck, and he might not be back until September. Díaz, who had his own issues with loose bodies, returned from a lengthy IL stint last week, and Tucker’s disappointing play has been as nondescript as his public persona. The Dodgers are old and injury-prone; that’s not new. Nor is it new that they’re deep enough to weather all the aches and declines. The Dodgers finished Saturday half a game behind the Brewers for the best record in baseball, and they hold slim leads over Milwaukee in run differential and base runs record. Not bad for a team that’s free to coast until October.

 

[Hitman206]

The Dodgers had to win multiple elimination games in the last two playoffs—against the Padres in 2024 and the Blue Jays in 2025—just to win the World Series in the first place. They didn’t even earn the first-round bye over Milwaukee and Philadelphia in last year’s regular season. Their core offensive players are aging considerably. Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker signed massive contracts in the offseason and have not produced at all. The Dodgers are an elite team, but they’re not so dominant as to be unstoppable. To the extent that L.A. does have a massive advantage, it has as much to do with its scouting, player development, and moves on the margins as it does with its lavish spending.

The Dodgers didn’t exploit deferred money or overwhelm Detroit with cash. They used the prospects produced by their scouting and development apparatus to acquire a rental pitcher coming off elbow surgery who is owed less than $10 million over the rest of the season. A salary cap would not have prevented this trade. Skubal didn't have a no trade clause and any team could have beaten LA's offer.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

The Dodgers had to win multiple elimination games in the last two playoffs—against the Padres in 2024 and the Blue Jays in 2025—just to win the World Series in the first place. They didn’t even earn the first-round bye over Milwaukee and Philadelphia in last year’s regular season. Their core offensive players are aging considerably. Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker signed massive contracts in the offseason and have not produced at all. The Dodgers are an elite team, but they’re not so dominant as to be unstoppable. To the extent that L.A. does have a massive advantage, it has as much to do with its scouting, player development, and moves on the margins as it does with its lavish spending.

The Dodgers didn’t exploit deferred money or overwhelm Detroit with cash. They used the prospects produced by their scouting and development apparatus to acquire a rental pitcher coming off elbow surgery who is owed less than $10 million over the rest of the season. A salary cap would not have prevented this trade. Skubal didn't have a no trade clause and any team could have beaten LA's offer.

That doesnt excuse the half dozen other moves they made to acquire players theyd have no business being able to pay. If there was any sort of salary cap, even a very liberal one, they wouldnt have the team they have right now. Thats a simple and indisputable fact. Just because they landed *some* guys in a fair manner, doesnt mean everyone was acquired that way.

 

[RunninRichie]

Imagine rooting for the Dodgers.

 

[Hitman206]

That doesnt excuse the half dozen other moves they made to acquire players theyd have no business being able to pay. If there was any sort of salary cap, even a very liberal one, they wouldnt have the team they have right now. Thats a simple and indisputable fact. Just because they landed *some* guys in a fair manner, doesnt mean everyone was acquired that way.

Their enormous television deal, attendance revenue, and ownership’s willingness to spend allow them to absorb mistakes that would devastate smaller clubs. That is a legitimate source of concern, especially when so many owners are simultaneously treating competitive balance tax thresholds as hard salary caps. But Skubal is not the transaction to present as Exhibit A in the case against baseball’s economic system. Any number of teams could have beaten LA's offer.


The uncertainty surrounding the Dodgers’ rotation made starting pitching a legitimate need. Their current rotation includes veteran journeyman Eric Lauer, the inconsistent Emmet Sheehan, breakout left-hander Justin Wrobleski, and the perpetually enigmatic Roki Sasaki. But question marks abound: Shohei Ohtani is dealing with knee soreness and biceps inflammation; Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell remain sidelined with injuries. Given the checkered injury histories involved, the Dodgers were fortunate to have all four of their aces healthy throughout last October’s playoff run, but they know they can’t count on the same luck again.

Los Angeles was already considered the favorite to land Skubal in free agency this upcoming offseason, but its unusually deep farm system provided the team with enough prospect capital to skip the wait. The Dodgers gave up outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Hope would be a top prospect in many MLB systems. Ryan is 27 years old and coming off an injury, but he’s an MLB-ready starter with elite stuff. Rather than wait until this winter, the Dodgers outbid every other contender to acquire Skubal in time for another playoff run.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Their enormous television deal, attendance revenue, and ownership’s willingness to spend allow them to absorb mistakes that would devastate smaller clubs. That is a legitimate source of concern, especially when so many owners are simultaneously treating competitive balance tax thresholds as hard salary caps. But Skubal is not the transaction to present as Exhibit A in the case against baseball’s economic system. Any number of teams could have beaten LA's offer.


The uncertainty surrounding the Dodgers’ rotation made starting pitching a legitimate need. Their current rotation includes veteran journeyman Eric Lauer, the inconsistent Emmet Sheehan, breakout left-hander Justin Wrobleski, and the perpetually enigmatic Roki Sasaki. But question marks abound: Shohei Ohtani is dealing with knee soreness and biceps inflammation; Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell remain sidelined with injuries. Given the checkered injury histories involved, the Dodgers were fortunate to have all four of their aces healthy throughout last October’s playoff run, but they know they can’t count on the same luck again.

Los Angeles was already considered the favorite to land Skubal in free agency this upcoming offseason, but its unusually deep farm system provided the team with enough prospect capital to skip the wait. The Dodgers gave up outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Hope would be a top prospect in many MLB systems. Ryan is 27 years old and coming off an injury, but he’s an MLB-ready starter with elite stuff. Rather than wait until this winter, the Dodgers outbid every other contender to acquire Skubal in time for another playoff run.

What do injured players have to do with this? LA's model was to go spend more money than anyone else, and buy players based on what they "were" not necessarily what they would be from here on out. Same problem with Stanton and the Yankees. NY paid for his past performance and now they have a 36 year old guy who has only played like 60% of his games. Nobody is going to feel bad for teams that just try and spend their way to a title, if it doesn't work.

I understand that Skubal might not be the correct example of LA buying its championships, but again, one move like this doesn't negate what LA has been doing for a few years. That's sort of what everyone's point here is.

 

[Laparkafan]

The Dodgers had to win multiple elimination games in the last two playoffs—against the Padres in 2024 and the Blue Jays in 2025—just to win the World Series in the first place. They didn’t even earn the first-round bye over Milwaukee and Philadelphia in last year’s regular season. Their core offensive players are aging considerably. Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker signed massive contracts in the offseason and have not produced at all. The Dodgers are an elite team, but they’re not so dominant as to be unstoppable. To the extent that L.A. does have a massive advantage, it has as much to do with its scouting, player development, and moves on the margins as it does with its lavish spending.

The Dodgers didn’t exploit deferred money or overwhelm Detroit with cash. They used the prospects produced by their scouting and development apparatus to acquire a rental pitcher coming off elbow surgery who is owed less than $10 million over the rest of the season. A salary cap would not have prevented this trade. Skubal didn't have a no trade clause and any team could have beaten LA's offer.

You stole this from cowherd yesterday well done

 

[LineSkiCat14]

What do injured players have to do with this? LA's model was to go spend more money than anyone else, and buy players based on what they "were" not necessarily what they would be from here on out. Same problem with Stanton and the Yankees. NY paid for his past performance and now they have a 36 year old guy who has only played like 60% of his games. Nobody is going to feel bad for teams that just try and spend their way to a title, if it doesn't work.

I understand that Skubal might not be the correct example of LA buying its championships, but again, one move like this doesn't negate what LA has been doing for a few years. That's sort of what everyone's point here is.

Wait. Scratch that, I totally glossed over the contract part.

They have to pay him 9.5mil this year, which surely, based on the Dodgers current salary amounts, is 9.5mil more than they'd be able to spend in a salary capped league.

So while yes, they didnt do anything that another team couldn't do, to trade for skubal.. the fact remains that they shouldnt have had a single spate penny to give to another player. They are so far beyond the limits of what a salary capped league would afford them.

And if that cap ever happens (will likely be something a few years out) the Dodgers will literally have to gut their team. Like, its gonna be the reverse expansion team scenario where like 8 players are gonna hit the open market lol.