MLB Execs, Scouts Defend Dodgers' Tarik Skubal Trade amid Criticism After 2026 Deadline

Despite the frustration from fans and criticism from team owners about an unfair playing field, people who work across MLB don't seem to have any issues with the Los Angeles Dodgers trading for Tarik Skubal.

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, various scouts and executives in both the American League and National League expressed respect for the Dodgers taking a big swing on arguably the best pitcher in MLB.

As one NL scout put it, they were "upset that the same story had to be defended again" when explaining their reaction to the trade.

"The best org had the players to get the deal because the best org is here to win, not raise franchise values," the scout said.

An executive for an NL team told Rogers they were in agreement with the take many, including Skubal, have expressed that any team could have traded for the two-time Cy Young winner:

"I agree with the take that anyone could have traded for him," the exec said. "It's a credit to them that they've got the depth to be in on all of these deals. I don't think anyone bought it when they said they weren't going to do anything big this deadline."

On the AL side, a scout said one likely reason the Dodgers were the high bidder in their offer to the Detroit Tigers is "because they are among the teams able to retain him beyond this season via extension."

One AL executive told Rogers they are "glad" they don't have to play in the National League to get to the World Series: "Other than that, no surprise. They've proven that when the best players become available, they're going to go after them."

In the wake of the Skubal trade, one common refrain that kept popping up his how unfair things appear to be in MLB because the Dodgers have so many star players and the financial spending is getting wide that it creates an uneven playing field.

It's also convenient for MLB to have this discussion pop up at a time when the owners and players are embroiled in what's expected to be a prolonged CBA negotiation with a salary cap at the forefront of the debate.

CBS Sports' Julian McWilliams noted the ownership side of MLB is "pumped" for the Skubal trade because they believe it enhances their argument for a salary cap to get all 30 teams on more equal footing.

Amid all of this discussion is the possibility that Skubal may have been more of a necessity for the Dodgers than expected given their mounting injury issues, including Shohei Ohtani not currently pitching, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow still out due to injuries and Dalton Rushing's status for the remainder of the season unclear due to a partially torn UCL.

The Dodgers enter play on Thursday having lost a season-high six straight games. No one will care about their results until the postseason, but their injuries have taken away a huge chunk of the depth that has made them so dominant over the past three years.