Shohei Ohtani’s uncertain health status has intensified the Los Angeles Dodgers’ urgency to bolster their starting pitching ahead of Monday’s MLB trade deadline, with a potential deal for Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal emerging as a critical priority. The Dodgers are facing increasing doubts about Ohtani’s ability to contribute as a starting pitcher in the postseason, which has prompted discussions within the organization about reinforcing the rotation.

Ohtani has been dealing with knee and biceps injuries, and his discomfort was evident during recent games, raising concerns about his availability for crucial October contests. While the Dodgers remain cautiously optimistic about the returns of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow from injury, the combination of Ohtani’s questionable status and an unraveling bullpen has left the team with significant uncertainties in its pitching staff.

Skubal, once considered a luxury trade option, now represents a more urgent acquisition as the Dodgers seek to mitigate the risk of limited starting pitching depth. The arrival of Skubal could not only strengthen the rotation but also provide flexibility to help stabilize a bullpen that has recently struggled. Prospects Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki might shoulder more responsibility if key starters are sidelined, but the team believes adding another dependable arm would improve their postseason prospects.

However, the Dodgers’ front office, led by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, has historically maintained a disciplined approach to trade negotiations, often refraining from overpaying for players regardless of immediate needs. This philosophy previously led the Dodgers to enter a postseason with a compromised rotation in 2023, contributing to an early playoff exit.

Past trade patterns illustrate the Dodgers’ willingness to part with mid-level prospects for significant pitching reinforcements, as seen in the 2024 deal for Jack Flaherty and the 2021 acquisition of Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. They also sacrificed notable young talent for established stars like Manny Machado in 2018 and Yu Darvish in 2017, yet have generally avoided trading away top prospects or long-term assets under club control such as Wrobleski.

The key question ahead of the deadline is whether the Dodgers will maintain their traditional restraint or take a more aggressive stance—even if that means including highly regarded prospects like Wrobleski—in order to secure Skubal. Given the Dodgers’ contention for a potential three-peat World Series title, alongside looming financial restrictions that could limit postseason roster flexibility in future seasons, the organization may view the current trade window as a rare, possibly final, opportunity to strengthen their rotation.

With their starting pitching depth in flux and a high-stakes postseason on the line, the Dodgers face a critical decision in the coming days about how far they are willing to go to fortify their roster for October.