Tigers trade package for Tarik Skubal in deal with Dodgers gets brutal two-word review

Tigers trade package for Tarik Skubal in deal with Dodgers gets brutal two-word review originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly made one of the biggest decisions in the franchise’s history, trading away Tarik Skubal ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the deal sending Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers brought back three prospects to Detroit: Outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-handed pitcher River Ryan, and right-handed pitcher Brady Smith.

Shortly after this trade was reported on, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic shared two reviews from rival evaluators, with one such review coming in with a brutal two-word comment of: “That’s all?”

Tigers get brutal ‘That’s all?’ review on trade return for Tarik Skubal

“A couple of texts from rival evaluators on what it took the Dodgers to get Tarik Skubal: ‘That’s all?’… ‘I’m shocked,'” Ardaya shared.

The Dodgers are sending three prospects to Detroit for Skubal, and it seems apparent that the return package wasn’t exactly as strong as these rival evaluators expected.

To be shocked by Skubal being reportedly traded to the Dodgers, it would have to revolve solely around the trade compensation.

Paired with the brutal “that’s all?” comment, it seems like the Tigers might have missed out on a chance to land even more at this year’s deadline for Skubal.

Zyhir Hope is a 21-year-old outfield prospect who has plenty of potential and is the Dodgers’ No. 5-ranked prospect in the farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.

MORE: Red Sox predicted to trade for Tigers‘ Gleyber Torres at deadline

Brady Smith is a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher who is still in High-A, but could work his way up in the near future. The really interesting piece is River Ryan, the 27-year-old prospect ranked No. 7 in the Dodgers’ farm system.

These three prospects aren’t terrible, but the two comments from rival evaluators shortly after the deal was reported aren’t exactly the kind of response Tigers fans will want to hear.

Regardless of what a Skubal trade would bring back, the players coming back in a deal would be heavily scrutinized for years to come. But, for the Tigers, getting this instant reaction to their blockbuster deal is not a good starting point.

More MLB news: