According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring outstanding right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers in a major transaction.

The Dodgers did it.

They're getting Jack Flaherty, who's going to be the best pitcher traded at this year's deadline.

Flaherty has a 2.95 ERA and an incredible 133 strikeouts to just 19 walks this season.

He's just 28 years old and is from Los Angeles.

What a move from LA. https://t.co/E0tCtrjgTN

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) July 30, 2024

Saint Louis — As the MLB Trade Deadline came to an end on Tuesday, the Rangers welcomed left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin to their roster.

In 37 innings with the Tigers in 2024, Chafin is 3-2 with a save percentage and a 3.16 ERA. This season, he has walked 16 and struck out 50 times. Batters who are left-handed are at bat.In 16 2/3 innings in 2024, 180 with no home runs and 26 strikeouts against him. Batters who are right-handed have hit two home runs.293.

Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo, two minor league right-hand pitchers, are being sent by the Rangers to the Tigers in exchange for Chafin. With Triple-A Round Rock, Lee, who turns 26 on August 13, has a 1.69 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. A sixth-round selection in 2021, he was.

Relief pitcher Jonathan Hernandez, a right-hander, was designated for assignment to create room for Chafin on the 40-man roster.

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Chafin with the 43rd overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft. Before being traded to the Chicago Cubs on August 31, 2020, he made his debut in 204 and played for the Diamondbacks for six seasons.

The 22-year-old Montalvo is 4-2 this season for High-A Hickory with a 2.44 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 13 starts (59 innings). A 20th-round selection in 2021, he was.

This season, the Rangers’ left side of the bullpen has been lacking. In 39 2/3 innings over 44 appearances, Jacob Latz has a 3.63 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and a 2-3 record.

If the Tigers deal Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers are favored over the Orioles.

Tarik Skubal, the star player for the Detroit Tigers, is reportedly available as the trade deadline draws near. If the Tigers allow Skubal to become available, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles are said to have expressed interest in signing him thus far.

In the event of a Skubal trade, the Dodgers might be superior to the Orioles.

According to BetOnline, the Dodgers are currently the betting favorites to acquire Skubal at +125. With +150 odds, the Orioles are not far behind.

The New York Yankees are next at +700, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres at +1000, all with far lower odds.

This is not a shocking discovery. The Dodgers are known for their aggressiveness, and acquiring Skubal would put them over the top and solidify their position as the favorites in the World Series.

According to MLB Pipeline, the Dodgers own the eighth-best farm system in baseball, which provides them with enough prospect money to acquire Skubal without having to give up any Major League talent.

Why Tarik Skubal is needed by the Dodgers

This season, injuries have devastated the Dodgers pitching staff. On Thursday, Clayton Kershaw made his debut for the season. On Wednesday, Tyler Glasnow made his way back from a three-week absence due to injury. Walker Buehler hasn’t played since June due to discomfort in his right hip. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is sidelined as he recovers from a strain to his right rotator cuff. Dustin May and Emmett Sheehan are out for the season.

Additionally, James Paxton was recently designated for assignment, which may indicate that the Dodgers want to make some moves to acquire starting pitcher.

With nearly $1 billion spent in high-profile offseason acquisitions of Teoscar Hernandez, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers are under more pressure than ever to go deep into the postseason. It’s World Series or bust for this team, especially in light of the fact that they were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS last season.

With Skubal, the Dodgers might have the finest starting rotation in baseball, and their opponents would face a very scary postseason opponent. Skubal is a part of the Dodgers’ future in addition to their present postseason drive because he has two more years of control.

The Dodgers must act quickly if Skubal is indeed being made available by the Tigers, despite some doubts about this. The Dodgers are focused on winning now. Trading for Skubal would increase LA’s chances of winning the World Series more than any other option.