​There have been significant updates regarding a potential Detroit Tigers trade of Tarik Skubal in the coming weeks, including a shift away from even listening to offers. After Skubal missed six weeks due to arthroscopic surgery and the Tigers slumped to a 22-38 start in June, the two-time Cy Young winner appeared destined to be traded before this year’s deadline. However, the club now heads into their game against the Athletics in a markedly different position.
Since June 1, Detroit has posted a 19-12 record—the best mark in MLB during that span—while Skubal has returned and pitched in vintage form. The Tigers have emerged as one of the hottest teams in baseball, and they are just four games out of the final American League Wild Card spot. If they can maintain this level of play, a run at winning the AL Central becomes a real possibility.
This turn of events presents the Tigers’ front office with a difficult decision. Is it feasible to trade their ace while they are in the midst of a pennant race? Robert Murray of Fansided suggests that “a trade still feels more likely than not,” but the option of keeping Skubal becomes more attractive if the team stays hot through July. Murray notes, “The Tigers are surging, with their offense and starting pitching among the best in baseball. Their bullpen is much improved, too. If they keep playing like this, the conversation could shift toward the Tigers being buyers, which would give [President] Scott Harris perhaps his toughest decision yet: Give it one last shot with Skubal or trade him before free agency?”
Even with a playoff chase underway, a deal for Skubal still feels plausible. The historical asking price Skubal is expected to command this winter is steep, and letting a pitcher of his caliber depart without a return would be a risky move. The risk grows if Detroit allows a hall-of-fame caliber pitcher to walk away without reinforcements.
Murray also provided what league executives around MLB anticipate the Tigers would receive in a deal if they decide to move their ace. According to multiple rival executives, Skubal would bring a substantial haul: a top-100 prospect, an organizational top-15 prospect, and additional pieces. This prospect-rich return would help cushion the team if Skubal is traded while still keeping the window open for future success.
In sum, Detroit’s current surge complicates the impulse to unload Skubal. The Tigers’ improved offense, bolster in starting pitching, and a revitalized bullpen have them in the playoff conversation, potentially turning them from “buyers” who search for immediate help into a club that might need to fend off the temptation of trading away a cornerstone pitcher for a future payoff. The decision will hinge on whether the surge continues through July and how aggressively Detroit’s front office weighs the short-term prospects against the long-term implications of losing Skubal without a meaningful return.