What happened: Executives surveyed ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline pointed to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the league's most aggressive likely buyer, even with Edwin Diaz, Blake Snell and Shohei Ohtani all working back toward the mound. Detroit, meanwhile, is viewed as increasingly open to trading Tarik Skubal, with pending free agent Casey Mize seen as a possible companion move.
Why it matters: A Skubal trade would pit the Dodgers' farm system against rivals chasing a controllable ace as Los Angeles pushes for a third straight World Series title. For Detroit, dealing Skubal reflects uncertainty over how the next collective bargaining agreement values draft-pick compensation for a departing star.
By the numbers: The Dodgers have won the last two World Series titles and carry nine players on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list.
What to watch: Watch for Skubal trade momentum to build before the Aug. 3 deadline, and whether Casey Mize gets attached to any Tigers package.