The Arizona Diamondbacks have climbed past the San Diego Padres into second place in the NL West. At 31-24, they’re just 4.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the division lead.
With momentum building, Arizona’s shaping up as a potential buyer at this year’s trade deadline. The bullpen could use reinforcement, but there’s a bigger need in the starting rotation if they want to compete with the Dodgers.
Two months before the August 3 deadline, Jim Bowden of The Athletic floated an intriguing possibility for the D-Backs, naming them as a “dark-horse” destination for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who’s posted a 2.70 ERA this season.
“I won’t count the Diamondbacks out of a deal like this because of their track record of surprising us with previous acquisitions of aces such as Zack Greinke and Corbin Burns. If Arizona stays in contention and can see a pathway to the postseason, I think it could be a dark-horse team.”
Bowden ranked Arizona sixth among potential fits for Skubal this season. It’s not just speculation – the move makes sense.
Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly haven’t delivered what Arizona needs from their top starters. Gallen’s sitting at a 4.80 ERA while Kelly’s at 5.25 ERA. Those numbers won’t cut it against elite competition.
Eduardo Rodriguez has been solid with a 2.31 ERA, and Mike Soroka owns a respectable 3.25 ERA. But neither would stop the Diamondbacks from pursuing an ace like Skubal.
What makes Skubal so appealing? He’s a back-to-back Cy Young winner who’s been among baseball’s elite starters. Even with his recent IL stint, that 2.70 ERA speaks volumes about his ability.
The Diamondbacks have assets to make a deal work with Detroit. Their crowded lineup creates natural trade pieces, and Arizona’s front office has shown they’re not afraid to make bold moves for pitching.
There’s another angle here too. Landing Skubal wouldn’t just bolster Arizona’s rotation – it’d keep him away from division rivals. The Dodgers and Padres would certainly have interest in Detroit’s ace.
So far this season, the D-Backs have shown they can hang with the division leaders. If they’re still in contention come late July, don’t be surprised if they make a significant move.
The way things are trending, Arizona could very well be big spenders at the deadline. Adding Skubal would signal they’re serious about making a postseason run and potentially more.
