Why Padres will trade for Tarik Skubal instead of Dodgers

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Why Padres will trade for Tarik Skubal instead of Dodgers

Douglas Fritz, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Fri, Jun 5, 2026 ·

5 min read

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While the San Diego Padres are mired in a rut, they have financial resources coming their way like the cavalry. And here is why the Padres will trade for Tarik Skubal instead of the Dodgers .

The Tigers seem to be on a path to trade Skubal. They are 25-38 and tied for last place in the AL Central. Skubal's return from his elbow procedure seems imminent, but it's unlikely the Tigers can gain enough momentum to get back in the playoff hunt.

Skubal is the two-time defending Cy Young award winner in the American League. His addition to the Padres' staff would make a huge difference.

Why do the Padres need SP Tarik Skubal ?

The Padres' pitching staff simply doesn't have a genuine playoff big dog. Michael King sits in the No. 1 spot in the rotation. But he doesn't have a long track record of success.

King put together an excellent season in 2024, but made only 15 starts and won just five games last year. This season, he has been decent, posting a 3.18 ERA and averaging close to a strikeout per inning with a record of 4-4. However, his walks are a concern.

And his day-night splits are atrocious. He has a 4.73 ERA in day games and a 1.77 mark in night starts. That's simply not ace material.

The Padres need an ace, and Skubal would give them that. Ken Rosenthal believes the Padres will make a play for Skubal, according to a post on X by Fou Territory.

"I fully expect the Padres to be one of the many teams in on Tarik Skubal if he becomes available." @Ken_Rosenthal says he's heard that teams believe Padres' new ownership will authorize (President of Baseball Operations) AJ Preller to take on more money."

And that's how this can get done. The Padres will be allowed to spend money. Of course, the Dodgers will be in that same boat. However, with the new ownership, the Padres can actually outbid the Dodgers.

Is there still time for the Padres to make a move?

The standings don't lie. The Padres entered Friday's games with a record of 32-29. They have lost nine of their last 10 games and fallen seven games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. They have even fallen half a game behind the Diamonbacks.

It's not the time to panic, but it is time to move. Of course, Skubal won't likely be moved until he returns to the mound. And that could be in mid-June. The Padres will need to return to their winning ways that saw them start the season with a record of 31-20.

But another problem for the Padres is finding the right package to deal for Skubal. It's not all about the contract he will demand. And their farm system isn't as strong as it used to be.

The Padres do have the prospects. But they will have to dig deep , according to The Athletic.

"(AJ Peller will) probably be willing to dangle at least one of his top pitching prospects, and maybe even two, among left-handers Kruz Schoolcraft and Kash Mayfield and right-hander Miguel Mendez," Jim Bowden wrote. "He could perhaps combine one of those pitchers with shortstop Jorge Quintana, catcher Ty Harvey, or outfielders Braedon Karpathios or Ryan Wideman to make a deal work.

"Preller might even consider offering his top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas, if he can get a deal done straight-up and he feels like he could win a title this season. The Padres should not be ignored if there is a Skubal sweepstakes."

Would the Padres trade C Ethan Salas?

That's a hard sell. Salas is a year away, but he's a toolsy catcher. And he has the mental makeup to be a great backstop, according to MLB.com.

"Even during the bad times, Salas was considered a gifted defender behind the plate and advanced beyond his years in terms of game planning, blocking, and receiving," MLB.com wrote. "He'd also worked to become a more efficient thrower to control the running game. Salas still has time on his side, but could use a full season of health in '26 to reestablish himself as a future starting catching option for San Diego."

Still, it's more likely the Padres part with Kruz Schoolcraft. Getting a dominant lefty like Skubal would take the sting out of trading Schoolcraft, who has the right physical makeup, according to MLB.com.

"The 6-foot-8 southpaw will stand out for his size on any diamond, and that gives everyone who sees him plenty to dream on for his future," MLB.com wrote. "His heater was up to 99 mph in bridge league play after the Draft. The velo is a fine place to start, and Schoolcraft's seven feet of extension could get it to play better as he gains pro experience. The upper-80s changeup is the best present pitch. A low-80s slider shows some promising sweep but will need to be fine-tuned."

Will the Padres pull the trigger?

The next couple of weeks could tell the story. If the Padres continue to lose and drift double-digit games behind the Dodgers, they may not be willing to mortgage their future. Having a new ownership group could work against them here. Win now sounds good if you're truly in the mix. But if it's the fringe, the new owners may not want to risk everything right off the bat.

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