Dodgers must trade which prospect for Skubal?

Dodgers’ prospect dilemma in any Skubal deal

Los Angeles is still being discussed as a likely participant if Tarik Skubal becomes available, but one report lays out a hard constraint: the Dodgers would have no choice but to trade a specific prospect in any deal for Skubal.

The key point is that this isn’t portrayed as optional “would they include someone?” negotiation strategy—it’s framed as an unavoidable cost of acquiring Skubal. That matters because it clarifies how Los Angeles might have to balance present-day pitching needs against the long-term value of its farm.

Why that prospect matters

Skubal is being treated across MLB as a top-tier starter target, so a deal would likely require more than just depth pieces. If the Dodgers can only get him by moving one of their prized prospects, then the prospect’s profile (and the Dodgers’ tolerance for parting with that talent) becomes the determining factor in whether a trade can actually happen.

The deadline context

Multiple Dodgers-linked items in the broader news stream also suggest the club will be active around the trade deadline, including roster/health considerations and pitching management. Even so, the Skubal-specific note emphasizes the prospect side of the equation: if LA’s ask has a built-in “must include” piece, that can narrow the number of realistic deal structures.

Bottom line

The trade-market implication is straightforward: Los Angeles’s willingness to pay for Skubal would depend on whether it views losing that prospect as the right exchange for a short-to-medium term rotation upgrade.

No additional prospect name or exact trade package details were provided in the snippet itself, but the report’s main message is that a particular prospect is a non-negotiable part of the price.