The Detroit Tigers are among several American League contenders looking to improve their rosters in hopes of making a run at the World Series in 2026.
But will the superstar starting pitcher Tarik Skubal be with the AL Central club next season? Skubal just won back-to-back Cy Young Awards, and he led the league with a 2.21 ERA. Amid rumors, The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported on Friday that the Tigers informed teams they are not expecting to trade Skubal this offseason.
"Once they get that overwhelming offer — which they will — they’ll likely have no choice but to trade him," Bowden wrote. "The Tigers have no chance of signing Skubal to a long-term extension this winter unless their next proposal is an offer that would make him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB, and not by a little but by a lot. It’s unlikely they make that offer."
Teams that could make an offer for Skubal
Bowden stated that he expects the big market teams to show interest in Skubal. He mentioned the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
If the Tigers decide to trade Skubal, they should do it sooner rather than later. They will most likely be in the postseason race at next year's trade deadline, and the return trade package will be less for a half-season of Skubal's services compared to a full season.
Skubal clearly deserves to be the highest-paid starter in baseball. The trade speculation is out of his control, and his future with the Tigers is undetermined.