The MLB trade deadline is today. And this weekend, the Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal — the two-time Cy Young Award winner from the Tigers — and my reaction was simple: of course they did.
Mookie Betts. Freddie Freeman. Shohei Ohtani. Blake Snell. Kyle Tucker. And now Skubal. The Dodgers keep adding the best players in the sport, and the rest of the league watches. Yes, anyone could have traded for Skubal. But here's the part that matters: when he becomes a free agent after this season, the Dodgers will sign him. For $300 million plus, with $100 million deferred the way they structure everything. Other teams could make the trade. They can't make that commitment.
This is why the CBA fight coming in December is going to be so ugly. Owners want a cap. The union has never had one in 50 years of collective bargaining and isn't about to accept one now. A lockout is coming. And the Skubal trade just became exhibit A in the owners' argument.
Today's Daily Dose is my full breakdown.
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