Tigers trade pitch sends Tarik Skubal to Dodgers for Emmet Sheehan, three prospects

Matt Sullivan

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Tigers trade pitch sends Tarik Skubal to Dodgers for Emmet Sheehan, three prospects image

The Detroit Tigers are in a tricky spot this offseason. While keeping Tarik Skubal will help make the 2026 season a contending one, for the long-term future, moving on from Skubal in a huge trade might make the most sense.

But what would it take for the Tigers to part with Skubal? Detroit would likely need MLB talent and multiple top prospects to even consider moving on from Skubal.

Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press pitched five different trade packages the Tigers could get in return for Skubal, and one such move with the Los Angeles Dodgers stands out. Not only because of how much it would frustrate the rest of baseball, but for the strong return the Tigers would get from Los Angeles.

Tigers trade pitch sends Tarik Skubal to Dodgers for Emmet Sheehan, more

"Tigers acquire: RHP Emmet Sheehan, SS Alex Freland, LHP Jackson Ferris, RHP Christian Zazueta," Petzold proposed.

This return for the Tigers is a major one. Sheehan is the headliner, and for good reason. The 26-year-old is under club control through 2029 and had a breakout 2025 season.

After a lackluster debut in 2023 with a 4.92 ERA in 13 games, Sheehan put together an impressive 15-game season in 2025 for the Dodgers. He had a 2.82 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched and was an impressive pitcher for Los Angeles when they needed him.

Sheehan isn't the only asset coming back in this proposal. Freeland is a top prospect of the Dodgers who made his MLB debut in 2025, where he hit.190 with a.602 OPS in 29 games. In Triple-A, the 24-year-old had an.835 OPS in 106 games.

More: Why Tarik Skubal is still Tigers' best offseason trade candidate

Ferris is an interesting pitching prospect, as the left-hander has a 3.86 ERA in 126 innings for the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate in 2025. He's only 21 years old and has a good fastball and slider. While not the centerpiece of this deal, Ferris would be a quality addition for the Tigers.

Lastly, Zazueta, a 12-year-old righty with a good changeup, is coming off an impressive 2025 season. He had a 2.41 ERA in 67.1 innings pitched in Single-A and High-A this past season. He might not be an impact player for a little while, but he's an intriguing prospect.

This might be one of the best packages the Tigers could get for Skubal if they move on from him. The Dodgers have the prospect talent and the pitching depth needed to part with a major-league pitcher this offseason.

Skubal with the Dodgers would make for a near-unbeatable rotation, but for the Tigers, they would be well set up for the future and would be worth the ire of the rest of baseball.

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Staff Writer