What Detroit Tigers could get from Orioles, Dodgers in Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty trades

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What Detroit Tigers could get from Orioles, Dodgers in Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty trades

Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press · Detroit Free Press

Wed, Jul 24, 2024 ·

7 min read

Tarik Skubal to Baltimore Orioles

Orioles acquire:LHP Tarik Skubal .

Explainer:The Orioles have three top-100 prospects: Holliday at No. 1, catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo at No. 12 and Mayo at No. 15. Among those three players, Basallo might be the most coveted, but he also might be the most untouchable in trade conversations because the Orioles can bank on a dominant catching tandem — Basallo and Adley Rutschman — for at least three seasons, beginning in 2025. Having Basallo allows the Orioles to preserve Rutschman's health, all while the duo splits time at catcher and designated hitter to stay fresh on offense. Still, the Tigers should expect to net at least two of those three top-100 prospects, likely Holliday and Mayo. Holliday, 20, solves the shortstop problem immediately, refuses to chase as part of his advanced approach and makes contact at an above-average rate; Mayo, 22, takes over at third base immediately and delivers monster power despite some swing-and-miss on in-zone breaking balls. Norby, 24, isn't a top-100 prospect, but he provides a boost in the power department immediately while trying to avoid a full-time position change to the outfield as an offense-first second baseman. All three players are under team control for the next six seasons with elite upside on offense. Garcia is a 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop who signed for a $500,000 bonus on the international market, but he has quietly impressed with bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline and bat speed in the Dominican Summer League.

Tarik Skubal to Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers acquire:LHP Tarik Skubal .

Explainer:The Dodgers don't have the same top-100 prospect capital as the Orioles, so if the Dodgers want Skubal, they'll have to throw a ton of players at the Tigers to overwhelm them with quantity. Only two players are on the top-100 list: Rushing at No. 47 and De Paula at No. 62. But the Dodgers could include MLB talent such as Pages and Vargas in the trade, along with Ryan to take Skubal's spot in the rotation. Pages, 23, fits best in right field with plus-power despite whiffs at the plate; Vargas, 24, fits best at third base while hitting for contact as a master of the strike zone; and Ryan, 25, has tremendous upside in his four-pitch mix anchored by an upper-90s fastball with induced vertical break. All three of those players have MLB experience. Rushing, 23, has big home run potential with plate discipline, but he must continue developing as a catcher, especially game calling. De Paula, a 19-year-old who signed internationally for a $397,500 bonus, makes quality swing decisions with long-term power potential, but he needs to clean up his defense. Freeland, 22, is a switch-hitter — way better from the left side of the plate — who projects to stick at shortstop while continuing to develop his improved hit tool to accompany his plate discipline. Quintero, an athletic 18-year-old who signed for a $297,500 bonus on the international market, is advanced on offense with top-tier speed. If the Dodgers trade seven players, the Tigers might be asked to toss in a reliever such as ex-Dodger Shelby Miller .

Jack Flaherty of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Jack Flaherty to Baltimore Orioles

Orioles acquire:RHP Jack Flaherty .

Explainer:None of the top three top-100 prospects — Holliday, Basallo, Mayo — would be included by the Orioles in a trade for a rental starting pitcher, even though Flaherty is the best-available starter on an expiring contract. To get Flaherty, assuming the Orioles refuse to move an MLB player such as Heston Kjerstad or Colton Cowser , the Orioles will have to give up a couple of prospects just outside of the top-100 list. Norby makes consistent contact, has game power and provides infield depth with the upside of being an everyday player who provides pop in the middle of the lineup. Bradfield, 22, has elite speed on the bases and elite defense in center field, along with above-average on-base skills at the plate. He draws walks, limits strikeouts and has 48 steals in 65 games at the High-A level this season. He projects as the perfect leadoff hitter, someone who can transform the dynamic of any offense, but only if he makes enough contact to utilize his speed on the bases. If he reaches his potential, Bradfield would add a new dimension to the Tigers' offense that's desperately needed.

Jack Flaherty to Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers acquire:RHP Jack Flaherty .

Explainer:Trading Rushing, a top-100 prospect, for Flaherty makes a lot of sense when considering Flaherty is the No. 1 rental starter on the market and Rushing is expendable. The Dodgers don't need Rushing because starting catcher Will Smith is under contract through the 2033 season, while prospect Diego Cartaya is the backup catcher of the future because of the leadership he shows in handling the Triple-A pitching staff. Meanwhile, fellow prospect Thayron Liranzo is an interesting catcher at the lower levels. Therefore, Rushing is the perfect trade candidate as the headliner in a Flaherty deal, giving the Tigers a catching tandem of Rushing and Dillon Dingler into the future. Miller, a 21-year-old switch-hitter, is outstanding defensively at shortstop, but his offense is below average. He draws walks with patience at the plate, but he doesn't hit the ball hard and probably won't ever hit for power. If the Dodgers won't trade Rushing, a package of shortstop Alex Freeland , outfielder Eduardo Quintero and right-hander Peter Heubeck makes sense for Flaherty.

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