The Detroit Tigers could be looking at a potential Tarik Skubal trade if the team continues to slide further out of the playoff race. Sitting at 30-44 and nine-and-a-half games back in the American League Central, any hopes of October baseball are dwindling fast. With him also approaching free agency, it would be wise to get any value from his stock now before they lose him for good.
Skubal is projected to make nearly $400 million in any new contract, which could also last eight years or more. Any trade with him at the forefront is guaranteed to net a large haul of prospects or a potential pair of MLB-ready players for a team struggling with a new identity crisis. While the team could be looking at a potential gold mine, two major issues could either complicate matters or shut down the conversation completely.
A Potential Tarik Skubal Trade Might Come With Injury Concerns
There’s no question that Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in the MLB with his back-to-back Cy Young seasons. Even though he was seeking his third consecutive accolade, those chances were derailed after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow on May 5. He also showed some rust after failing to go five innings in his return against the Cleveland Guardians on June 13, losing 3-1. He did settle down in his next start against the Chicago White Sox, going 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts but surrendering two home runs.
Teams that might be looking for pitching help could take into account Skubal’s concerning injury history, even when including his recent nanoscope surgery. He underwent surgery in 2022 to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, knocking him out until his return in July 2023. There’s also his 2016 Tommy John surgery that continues to loom large over his career, a potential ticking time bomb if he injures it again.
Most rotations that need an upgrade, especially ones in a playoff hunt like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies, to name a few, need a pitcher with longevity and durability. Skubal offers longevity, given he’s only 30 and is in the prime of his career. This recent surgery, however, calls his durability into question and could scare off potential suitors before the deadline. It also risks impacting his overall value and any haul the Tigers could get.
Can Any Team Even Afford A Trade For Skubal?
It’s not clear exactly what the Tigers would like in return for Skubal, but rumors suggest the team is looking for “controllable pitching” and position players “close to debuting,” according to Yahoo! Sports. It makes sense, given that starting pitchers Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize are set to become free agents at the end of the season. The team could also look to move on from Spencer Torkelson at first base and needs someone to replace Jahmai Jones.
When looking at the team’s farm system and top-30 prospects, it’s a top-heavy system with outfielder Max Clark and shortstop Bryce Rainer headlining the team. The Tigers are almost a lock to look for young pitching help, given that Andrew Sears is their top pitching prospect and only has 17 innings at Double-A this year. In addition, 2025 draft pick Malachi Witherspoon is struggling to find solid footing in Single-A.
Some good news for the Tigers is that a few teams can potentially meet that price. One team that could make a serious surprise move at the deadline is the Boston Red Sox, despite their ugly 29-43 record and sitting in the American League East cellar. Boston has young pitching, including Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, along with top 100 pitching prospects Kyson Witherspoon and Anthony Eyanson. The latter is especially having a good season, tossing a 1.10 ERA in 41 innings and 57 strikeouts. It might be a stretch given their lackluster lineup and being tied up with Garrett Crochet’s $170 million contract, but they remain convinced they could win a championship.
The Seattle Mariners are in a tight AL West division, only holding a 1.5-game lead against the Athletics. Seattle needs help offensively at the first base and outfield positions, but with Colt Emerson and Lazaro Montes on the way, their fortunes could turn around. They can also afford to trade away one of their starters, given they have a rotation that features Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and a surging Bryce Miller who has years of control left. A price could be negotiated around a package featuring Montes and either Kade Anderson or Ryan Sloan as a prospect duo. There’s definitely capital on this team to get a deal done.
Of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers cannot be ruled out of any trade either. The only thing that might stop a trade is a reluctance to give up young pitching, especially if they ask for Justin Wrobleski or Emmett Sheehan. The team could yield answers to Detroit’s outfield issues with Josue De Paula or a potential James Tibbs III-headed trade, but little in the way of pitching. The market is open, but maybe not as wide as fans think it is.
