Dodgers' 'best fit' at trade deadline is Cardinals' 3.95 ERA closer if not Tarik Skubal
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Dodgers' 'best fit' at trade deadline is Cardinals' 3.95 ERA closer if not Tarik Skubal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are on a mission to become just the third franchise in Major League Baseball history to win three consecutive World Series titles.
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They have the stars to get the job done, led by superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani.
But the Dodgers never seem to be 100% satisfied with their roster, always making upgrades at positions you wouldn't expect to need any.
Back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal could be someone the Dodgers discuss with the Detroit Tigers, but ESPN's Jeff Passan has another idea if they miss out on the ace.
"They get the best pitcher in the world, or they drive up the price for others already struggling to keep up with them," Passan wrote about the Dodgers' potential pursuit of Skubal. "And if the latter is the outcome, using a player or two to get [Riley] O'Brien as insurance for injured closer Edwin Díaz -- and having him be the long-term replacement for Blake Treinen, with a filthy sinker-slider combination -- is a worthwhile pivot."
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O'Brien, 31, has emerged as the best reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals after allowing just 11 earned runs in 48 innings in 2025. The right-hander already has 15 saves in his 27 appearances this season.
It remains to be seen what route the Cardinals take at the deadline. As of today, they are in the postseason mix. Will that be the case after the next few months? Only time will tell.
A strong Dodgers farm system could help St. Louis land more young, controllable players for its future contending teams.
For the Dodgers, adding an arm like O'Brien's strengthens their bullpen depth even more. He could slot in as their eighth-inning guy when Diaz returns from the IL.
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