Late on Saturday night, the Tigers traded Skubal to the Dodgers for Triple-A starting pitcher River Ryan, Double-A outfielder Zyhir Hope, and Low-A pitcher Brady Smith. By the end of his first pro season, Ryan had leapt from “developmental sleeper” all the way into the upper reaches of the Dodgers prospect list. During 2025 spring training, Hope hit a ball 108 mph — in the cage, the opposite way, off a freaking tee. The stretch run of next season, late enough that Hope would carry rookie eligibility into 2028, makes more sense. Their next best prospects are either not as talented as the Ryan/Hope combo, or they do not meet Detroit’s desire for MLB-ready pitching.