Phillies Dismiss Dodgers' Skubal Trade as Dombrowski Faces 2-Day Deadline

2 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Aug 2

Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber said Philadelphia is "not scared of anyone" after the Dodgers landed Tarik Skubal, even as players acknowledged the move made an already difficult NL path tougher.
The Phillies were never realistic bidders for the two-time reigning Cy Young winner because their farm system ranks 29th, far behind the Dodgers' No. 3 system with seven top-100 prospects.
That leaves Dave Dombrowski under pressure with 2 days until the deadline, needing a starting pitcher, a late-inning reliever and a right-handed bat while holding only the final NL playoff spot.
Don Mattingly said the club must focus on its own race first, though rivals still view the Phillies as a dangerous postseason matchup because of a rotation led by lefties Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo.
Skubal's arrival deepens a Dodgers staff that already includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, raising the bar for any NL contender trying to reach the World Series.