The Detroit Tigers are receiving a lot of interest this offseason, with teams eyeing Tarik Skubal for a potential blockbuster trade. While Detroit isn't likely to move him, a trade can't be completely written off.
Of course, if the Tigers do trade Skubal, it would come with a massive return package. Whether it's multiple top prospects, MLB-ready pitching, or other elite talent, the Tigers won't accept anything less than a king's ransom for Skubal.
For USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, a Skubal trade is possible even with such a high price tag, taking most teams out of the market. While Skubal won't accept an extension before hitting free agency, Nightengale does propose one scenario in which he does accept a new deal.
Tigers could trade Tarik Skubal for $450 million reason
"The trouble is that the price tag will be enormous for only one year of service, unless someone is willing to offer $450 million on the spot." Nightengale writes. "The Tigers will trade Skubal only if they get completely blown away, delaying any tough decision until next summer."
Most teams won't meet the Tigers' likely absurdly high asking price. With Skubal hitting free agency after one season, a team could give up its best assets for Skubal and lose him after just one season.
That would be a disaster, so most teams won't be able to trade for Skubal at the Tigers' asking price. But, as Nightengale alludes to, if a team is willing to offer Skubal a massive $450 million contract, then trading for him might be more feasible.
If a team can get more than one year out of Skubal in a trade, then the absurd asking price might actually be worth it.
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A $450 million contract would likely be what Skubal is looking for, and if a team is willing to offer that, they could get him for more than just one year after trading for him.
The combination of $450 million contract and massive compensation sent to the Tigers might be too much for a team to handle this winter, but it might be the most realistic example of what it might take for a team to trade for Skubal.
Nightengale's idea is an interesting one, as a $450 million deal is the exact contract Skubal is hitting free agency to land. While it's an appealing deal and would make the cost of the trade worth it, this is not a likely outcome at all.
Skubal is likely to stay with Detroit for the 2026 season, hit free agency, and look to sign a massive contract extension next offseason.
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