Could the Dodgers Trade for Paul Skenes? Why a Blockbuster Deal Might Be Too Much
The Dodgers have the talent and prospects to pursue All-Star pitcher Paul Skenes, but is the cost worth it for a team already strong in pitching depth?
LOS ANGELEES — Ahead of the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, rumors are swirling about whether the Dodgers will swing big for another superstar. The biggest name they’ve been linked to? None other than National League All-Star Game starting pitcher Paul Skenes.
Whether such a deal is realistic is a matter of debate. Still, one thing is clear: if the Dodgers, already featuring a rotation that includes Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki, were to land a talent like Skenes, it would send shockwaves through baseball.
What Would a Paul Skenes Trade Cost?
Proposed packages for Skenes have been eye-opening. One rumored deal looks like this:
Dodgers receive:
- RHP Paul Skenes
Pirates receive:
- OF Andy Pages
- RHP Emmet Sheehan
- C Dalton Rushing
- OF Josue De Paula (L.A.’s No. 1 prospect)
- SS Alex Freeland (L.A.’s No. 3 prospect)
This package would essentially gut the Dodgers’ farm system, shipping out multiple top prospects and two players, Pages and De Paula, who are already showing real promise. Pages is in the midst of a breakout season, while De Paula just earned MVP honors in the MLB Futures Game. It’s hard to imagine the front office being comfortable parting with that much elite young talent, even for a pitcher as electrifying as Skenes.
A Need vs. A Luxury
From a rotation standpoint, the Dodgers aren’t desperate. Their starting five is one of the deepest and most talented in the league. Adding Skenes would be a luxury more than a necessity.
And the team might be better served using its assets to address other concerns, namely on the offensive side of the ball. One significant question mark is Mookie Betts at shortstop. While his defense has been solid, his offensive numbers are down significantly. He’s batting just .246 with a .316 OBP and an OPS+ of 98, marking the worst offensive season of his career so far. Factors such as an early-season illness and an offseason position change may be contributing to the issue. Still, the Dodgers should consider moving Betts back to the outfield to maximize his impact at the plate.
Final Thoughts
It’s fun to imagine Paul Skenes in Dodger blue, but the price would be steep, perhaps too steep. While the Dodgers have the pieces to make such a deal happen, it feels unlikely they would be willing to part with so much future talent in one swing. More likely, the front office will target players who can complement their veteran core without sacrificing their next wave of stars.
With the team snapping a seven-game losing streak and holding a 57–39 record atop the NL West, L.A. will undoubtedly be active ahead of the deadline. Whether that includes a blockbuster like Skenes or more calculated depth moves, one thing is sure: the Dodgers will be buyers, and they’ll be aiming to put themselves in position for another deep October run.
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