New Dodgers Rumors on 'Increased' Tarik Skubal Trade Interest Amid Shohei Ohtani's Biceps Injury

While two-way star Shohei Ohtani continues to abstain from pitching amid his biceps injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly eyeing the biggest name on the trade market ahead of Monday's deadline.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Dodgers' interest in acquiring Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal "has increased due to questions surrounding" Ohtani's availability to pitch.

Per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani was scratched from his first start after the All-Star break on July 22 after experiencing continued discomfort in his left knee. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen session that day, but another session scheduled for three days later was postponed. Ohtani told reporters on Tuesday that while his knee was "getting better," his right biceps remains an issue.

"Just similar issue with the knee -- do we consider pushing this?" Ohtani said through an interpreter. "It is still July. I think the conversations would be a little different if we're in August or September."

Amid Ohtani's ongoing absence from the mound, Gonzalez noted that "rival executives continue to view the Dodgers as the favorites" to land Skubal at the trade deadline. The back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is in the final year of his contract with the Tigers and remains one of the best pitchers in the majors, becoming the fastest-ever to reach 1,000 career strikeouts in Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Landing Skubal would undoubtedly be the biggest prize of the deadline and put the Dodgers in a position to achieve a rare World Series three-peat, so it will be interesting to see how hard they pursue a trade for him over the next few days.