If the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal, how every MLB team may match up in a deal
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Detroit Tigers, currently last in the AL Central despite preseason expectations, face a tough path to a wild-card spot and may need to consider selling players at the August 3 trade deadline, with Tarik Skubal as their top trade asset.
- Skubal, a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, cannot be extended before free agency, so the Tigers should explore trade options early to maximize return, as his value decreases the closer it gets to the deadline.
- Potential trade partners for Skubal include the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and a few others, with teams varying in their willingness to trade prospects or absorb salary for a rental pitcher.
- The Tigers should be proactive in gauging market interest, including medical evaluations and contract considerations, to be ready to act decisively if they choose to sell Skubal.
- Several contending teams have rotation depth or strategic reasons that make them unlikely buyers, while others like the Cubs and Dodgers are seen as strong candidates to pursue Skubal aggressively.