Trade Rumors Heat Up for Tarik Skubal

The Detroit Tigers are keeping the door open for a potential trade involving their star pitcher, Tarik Skubal, who has garnered attention as a two-time AL Cy Young winner. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, discussions continue with various teams, although it remains uncertain if a trade will actually take place.

As executives from all 30 MLB teams prepare for the winter meetings in Orlando next week, the Tigers' asking price for Skubal has been described as "enormous." This price tag underscores the team's desire to retain the talented left-hander, especially given their recent playoff appearances and aspirations for postseason success in 2026.

Competitive Landscape and Skubal's Future

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal highlighted the Tigers' stance on trading Skubal, indicating that a trade would only occur if the team feels compelled to move him. While there have been no significant advancements towards a long-term extension for Skubal, the team's ambitions remain high following back-to-back playoff seasons.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, the chances of Skubal being traded this offseason stand at approximately 10 percent. They pointed to potential landing spots including the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Baltimore Orioles, should a deal materialize.

Skubal's Value and Future Earnings

Determining Skubal's trade value is complex; with his proven capabilities as arguably MLB's best pitcher and only one year of team control left, the equation becomes tricky. Following his second consecutive Cy Young award in 2025, Skubal's market value has skyrocketed, putting him in contention for a record-breaking free agency contract next offseason.

Reports from October indicated that negotiations between Skubal and the Tigers were considerably apart, with estimates suggesting a gap of nearly $250 million. This situation complicates the Tigers' decisions, as any struggles early in the next season could diminish Skubal's trade value ahead of the deadline.

In the last two seasons, Skubal has dominated the league, leading the AL in ERA with an impressive 2.21, alongside career-best statistics in innings pitched (195.1) and strikeouts (241) in 2025. The Tigers now face a challenging decision: either secure their ace with a substantial contract to avoid free agency or risk losing him for the 2024 season.