Just like the temperatures in West Sacramento, California – where the Detroit Tigers were spending the final weekend before the MLB trade deadline hits at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3 – the heat was on for the American League Central.
The Tigers entered Saturday six games under .500, six games back in the Central and 3½ back in the race for the AL’s final wild-card spot. That made it ever more likely they’d be sellers at Monday’s deadline, at least with the majors’ top trade chip: two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The left-hander is set to be a free agent at season’s end and appears likely to get MLB’s first $400 million contract for a full-time pitcher.
Here are the latest rumors and moves swirling around MLB in the final hours before the deadline:
Skubal is dealt to Dodgers
The Detroit Tigers reportedly traded ace pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, Aug. 1, a little under 48 hours before the MLB trade deadline.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinrand was the first to report the deal, and also reported Saturday night that top Dodgers prospect Zyhir Hope was part of the package headed to the Tigers.
For more, check out the full trade breakdown here.
Dodgers scratch prized prospect, potential centerpiece of Skubal trade
Just as the Tigers sat starter Casey Mize on Friday to avoid an injury that could scuttle trade talks, the Los Angeles Dodgers scratched star outfield prospects Zyhir Hope and Kendall George on Saturday from their stint with Double-A Tulsa.
Hope has often been cited as a potential Tigers target in Tarik Skubal trade talks.
Hope is ranked as MLB’s No. 25 prospect by MLB Pipeline; the 21-year-old, an 11th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, entered Saturday hitting .293 with 23 homers and an .899 OPS with the Drillers. The left-handed hitter also has 18 steals in 21 attempts this season.
George, meanwhile, possesses more of a contact bat, as the 21-year-old (a first-round pick in the 2023 draft, one spot before Tigers star Kevin McGonigle) is hitting .332 with 11 doubles and no home runs in 55 games in Double-A. He has shown excellent strike zone judgement, with just 49 strikeouts and 31 walks, while stealing 33 bases in 38 attempts with Tulsa.
White Sox add veteran lefty Luis Castillo
The Chicago White Sox aren’t exactly pushing in all their chips in an attempt to win the AL Central for the first time since 2021, but they’re certainly making some bets.
The latest came Saturday night, when the White Sox reportedly added veteran right-hander Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners for a package that included reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith.
Castillo, a three-time All-Star, owns a 3.65 ERA in more than 1,500 innings over 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners. But 2026 has easily been his worst in the majors, as he has posted a 5.06 ERA with 86 strikeouts, 32 walks and 16 homers allowed in 99⅔ innings.
It’s not a cheap move for the White Sox, either, as they’ll reportedly be picking up the remainder of his contract: approximately $7.6 million this year (the pro-rated portion of $22.75M this season) and $22.75M next year and a $25M option for 2028, which vests if he reaches 180 innings.
This story will be updated as MLB trade deadline news breaks.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal MLB trade deadline rumors: Latest news from around the league
Reporting by Free Press staff reports, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Free Press staff reports, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
