談Skubal交易-Fabian Ardaya & Katie Woo
Inside the ‘aggressive’ Tarik Skubal trade: How the Dodgers landed thedeadline’s big prize
Tarik Skubal交易內幕：道奇隊如何拿下交易截止日的大獎
By Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo
LOS ANGELES — On Sunday night, Tarik Skubal stood in the dugout, wearing Dodger blue. He hugged Dave Roberts, his new manager, and he smiled. Less than 24 hours earlier, a blockbuster trade sent Skubal to Los Angeles, where he will now take his place among its lavish collection of stars.
洛杉磯──週日晚上，Tarik Skubal 身穿道奇藍球衣站在球員休息區內。他擁抱了他的新總教練 Dave Roberts，並露出了微笑。就在不到 24 小時前，一筆重磅交易將 Skubal 送到了洛杉磯，如今他將在這支星光熠熠的陣容中佔有一席之地。
The reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner was the
deadline’s biggest prize. The reigning back-to-back World Series winners are a juggernaut. Skubal was the only player Los Angeles targeted ahead of Monday’s deadline. The whole thing — the trade on Saturday night, the scene that followed Sunday — it all felt inevitable.
這位衛冕美聯賽揚獎二連霸得主是交易大限前最受矚目的頭號大獎。而這支衛冕世界大賽二連霸的球隊則是一支實力堅強的勁旅。Skubal 是洛杉磯在週一交易大限前唯一的補強目標。整件事──從週六晚上的交易，到週日隨之而來的景象──一切感覺都是那麼地順理成章。
Right?
對吧？
“There’s nothing that we did that no one else couldn’t have done,”
Roberts said Sunday.
「我們所做的事情，沒有哪支球隊是做不到的，」Roberts 在週日表示。
But could have done and would have done are different, and while rival teams found themselves on one side of that equation once more, the Dodgers once again demonstrated their comfort with being on the other.
但「能力上做得到」與「實際上願意做」是兩回事。當其他競爭對手再次發現自己處於天平的那一端時，道奇隊則再一次展現了他們對於處於天平另一端的游刃有餘。
The Dodgers pried Skubal and his remarkable changeup away from the Detroit Tigers with a package that included two of the top 70 prospects in the sport— outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-hander River Ryan. They also sent Brady Smith, a well-regarded right-hander, to Detroit. That return was in line with expectations, given Skubal’s status as a free-agent-to-be this winter.
道奇隊以一份包裹交易籌碼，從底特律老虎隊手中挖走了 Skubal 與他那令人驚嘆的變速球，籌碼中包含全美前 70 大新秀中的兩位──外野手 Zyhir Hope 與右投手 River Ryan。他們同時也將評價極高的右投手 Brady Smith 送往底特律。鑑於 Skubal 今冬即將成為自由球員的身分，這樣的交易回報符合預期。
“I think (it’s) the benefit of having a lot of really talented players,”Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Sunday, shortly after the trade was made official. “We had a lot of guys that they liked.”
「我認為（這是）擁有眾多天賦異稟球員的好處，」道奇隊棒球營運總裁（president of baseball operations）Andrew Friedman 在交易正式生效後不久於週日表示。「我們手中有許多他們感興趣的人選。」
In truth, not even the Dodgers were sold on their chances ahead of the
Saturday night trade. Friedman prefers to refrain from these types of
deadline megadeals, citing the substantial premium to acquire key players this time of year. But if Friedman was going to change his calculus, it was going to be for Skubal only.
事實上，在週六晚上的交易達成之前，連道奇隊自己都沒有百分之百的把握。Friedman通常傾向於避免在交易大限前進行這類型的超大型交易，理由是每年這個時候要引進關鍵球員都必須付出極高昂的溢價。但如果 Friedman 決定改變他的考量，那目標只會是Skubal。
“We were of the mind to be aggressive for one player this deadline,”
Friedman said. “Fortunately, we were able to line up.”
「我們在這個交易大限前的想法，就是只為了一位球員全力展現侵略性，」Friedman 說。「幸運的是，我們最終成功對齊了彼此的需求。」
The Dodgers adopted a more expansive approach this deadline, placing even more value on the opinions of their pro scouts and internal talent
evaluators. The vast majority of executives flew to Los Angeles ahead of their all-hands meetings on Friday morning. The group was beginning to wrap up their meeting Saturday evening when the Tigers called, saying they wanted to get the deal done that night.
道奇隊在這次交易大限採取了更為廣泛開放的做法，更加重視他們的職業球探（pro scouts）以及內部天賦評估人員（internal talent evaluators）的意見。絕大多數的高階主管在週五早上的全員會議前就已飛抵洛杉磯。週六傍晚，當團隊準備結束會議時，老虎隊打來了電話，表示希望能在當晚完成交易。
The Dodgers compiled a few potential packages, resulting in an end vote. Ultimately, the package of Hope, Ryan and Smith became the offer. The Dodgers could do nothing else but wait.
道奇隊整理出幾套潛在的交易包裹，並進行了最終投票。最終，由 Hope、Ryan 和Smith 組成的包裹成為了最終出價。道奇隊接下來能做的，就只有等待。
“I wasn’t that confident,” Friedman said. “I had no idea and was trying
to emotionally hedge. I wasn’t getting too high or too low on it until we actually found out.”
「我當時並沒有那麼大的信心，」Friedman 說。「我完全無法預料結果，只能盡力做好情緒避險。在我們真正得到確切消息之前，我一直克制自己不要情緒過度高漲或低落。」
By the middle of L.A.’s game that night, a 3-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, Friedman and Scott Harris, the Tigers’ president of baseball operations, had a deal. It seemed, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the information, the Tigers simply believed the Dodgers had the most to offer.
在當晚洛杉磯（L.A.）以 3 比 2 輸給波士頓紅襪隊的比賽進行到一半時，Friedman 與老虎隊棒球營運總裁 Scott Harris 達成了協議。據一位因資訊敏感而要求匿名的知情人士透露，老虎隊純粹是認為道奇隊提供了最有價值的籌碼。
“I felt like we were being really aggressive and that we put some really talented players on the table, so I felt like that gave us a really good chance,” Friedman said.
「我覺得我們展現出了極大的誠意與侵略性，而且我們擺在談判桌上的都是極具天賦的球員，所以我覺得這給了我們非常好的機會，」Friedman 說。
It is hard to match a farm system like the one Los Angeles has cultivated, one that is consistently regarded as top five in the sport. It is built to absorb deals such as this — and it is a testament to the organization’s pro scouting and player development departments, which the team continues to heavily invest in.
很難有其他球隊能媲美洛杉磯所培育出的農場系統，該系統長期被公認為全聯盟前五名。它的建立就是為了能夠承受這類型的交易──這同時也是該組織長期重金投資職業球探部門（pro scouting department）與球員發展部門（player development department）的最佳證明。
“Our scouting staff, our player development staff, our front office,
analytics group, all of our different departments have their fingerprints all over this,” Friedman said. “To put us in position to not only be
competitive here but also to have a really strong farm system, which then puts us in position to be able to have these types of conversations.”
「我們的球探團隊、球員發展團隊，管理層、數據分析小組，我們所有的不同部門都對此付出了汗水與貢獻，」Friedman 表示。「這不僅讓我們能在當前保持強大的競爭力，同時還擁有一支極其堅實的農場系統，進而讓我們有資格去進行這類型的交易對話。」
The Tigers spent minimal time negotiating with the Tampa Bay Rays, with their sights seemingly set on that Dodgers’ system, according to league sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity for their candor on the negotiations.
據因坦率談論談判細節而要求匿名的聯盟消息人士透露，老虎隊與坦帕灣光芒隊談判的時間非常短，他們的心思似乎完全放在道奇隊的農場系統上。
The Milwaukee Brewers, too, have an enviable farm system. But they have
historically never been the type of club to act aggressively at the deadline on a rental. So Milwaukee — well-run and rolling this season, with an eye toward October baseball — moves on without adding Skubal in early August.
密爾瓦基釀酒人隊同樣擁有令人羨慕的農場系統。但從歷史上看，他們從不是那種會在交易大限前對租賃型球員採取激進動作的球隊。因此，密爾瓦基──這支本賽季經營有方、一路順遂且放眼十月季後賽的球隊──在八月初並沒有補強 Skubal，選擇繼續前進。
The Philadelphia Phillies were always considered long shots to land Skubal, though veteran executive Dave Dombrowski loves to hunt stars. He has a good preexisting relationship with Harris; they have come together on several trades in the last four years. And the two men will often talk baseball, even if it’s not trade-related.
雖然資深高階主管（veteran executive）Dave Dombrowski 熱衷於追逐球星，但費城人隊一直被認為很難爭奪到 Skubal。他與 Harris 本身私交甚篤，兩人在過去四年中曾多次達成交易合作。而且就算與交易無關，兩人也經常在一起聊棒球。
The Phillies and Tigers, according to league sources, discussed Skubal in broad strokes. But it is possible the Phillies never made a formal offer.
根據聯盟消息人士透露，費城人隊和老虎隊曾對 Skubal 進行過初步的方向性討論。但費城人隊可能從未提出過正式的報價。
Hope, according to several rival evaluators, would have rated as the best or second-best prospect in the Phillies’ system. The Phillies have been willing to discuss many of their top prospects in trade talks, but not in exchange for a rental player.
據多位競爭對手的評估人員表示，Hope 若在費城人隊的系統中，將會被評為第一或第二頂尖的新秀。費城人隊雖然願意在交易談判中討論他們的許多頂級新秀，但絕非用來換取一名租賃型球員。
The Chicago Cubs were among the teams to check in on Skubal as they pursued pitching help — which they got Sunday afternoon in trading for Toronto’s Kevin Gausman. But club officials anticipated that, in terms of young talent to offer, another organization would be better positioned, as well as more motivated to trade for a rental starter of this caliber.
芝加哥小熊隊也是尋求投手戰力支援並詢問過 Skubal 的球隊之一──他們在週日下午透過交易換來多倫多藍鳥隊的 Kevin Gausman 達成了補強目的。但小熊隊球團官員預料到，就可提供的年輕天賦而言，其他球隊會具備更好的籌碼優勢，並且更有強烈的動機去交易這種級別的租賃型先發投手。
The Cubs also seemed to quickly realize that the price was going to reach a level they wouldn’t be comfortable going to. Considering their place in the standings, giving up a prospect who they valued highly was just not something they’d do for a rental, even one as highly thought of as Skubal.
小熊隊似乎也很快意識到，要價將會達到一個令他們感到不適的代價水平。考量到他們在戰績榜上的位置，送走一名他們極為看重的頂級新秀，並不是他們會為了一名租賃型球員做的事，哪怕是像 Skubal 這樣評價極高的球員亦然。
It’s unclear how far the New York Yankees got with the Tigers in talks with Skubal, though it is believed they were in touch with each other in recent days.
目前尚不清楚紐約洋基隊與老虎隊關於 Skubal 的談判進展到什麼程度，但據信他們近幾天確實保持著聯繫。
One team decision-maker pointed to how Skubal — and starting pitching, in general — “wasn’t quite an area of need” for the Yankees, whose offense
has been in the dumps of late.
一位球隊決策者指出，對於近期打線表現低迷的洋基隊來說，Skubal──乃至於整體的先發投手戰力──「並不是那麼迫切需要的補強領域」。
“Obviously, Skubal seemed like he was available the last few days,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Not shocked. We know the system the Dodgers had.”
「很明顯，Skubal 在過去幾天似乎是可以被交易的，」洋基隊總教練 Aaron Boone 說。「這並不令人震驚。我們都很清楚道奇隊所擁有的農場系統有多深厚。」
— Matt Gelb、Cody Stavenhagen、Brendan Kuty、Patrick Mooney 以及 Sahadev Sharma 對本報導亦有貢獻。
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