ESPN insider reveals key update on Tigers' Tarik Skubal trade talks

Matt Sullivan

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ESPN insider reveals key update on Tigers' Tarik Skubal trade talks image

One of the most fascinating storylines of the MLB offseason thus far is what the Detroit Tigers wind up doing with their superstar ace, Tarik Skubal.

While trading him seems outlandish, the return they could get for him could be organization-altering. Letting him walk for nothing in return after 2026 could be a massive waste as well, barring a World Series title in 2026.

With the scenario laid out in front of the Tigers, the most recent update on the Skubal trade talks from ESPN insider Buster Olney is noteworthy. Not only are the Tigers not shutting down the rumors, but they're engaged in trade talks surrounding their Cy Young ace.

Tigers discussing Tarik Skubal trades with other MLB clubs

"The Tigers continued to be engaged with other teams in discussing the Tarik Skubal trade options," Olney reports. "Still unclear whether they'll actually move the left-hander in a big trade; the asking prices are enormous, as you could imagine."

With the Tigers still involved in trade talks with other clubs for Skubal, the chances of a trade happening cannot be zero. It's still improbable due to the extreme asking price, but if a team is willing to pay a king's ransom, then Skubal could be on the move.

"He could be the biggest difference-maker for a new team in '26, and Detroit would have to get significant value in return to do this," Olney writes. "The Tigers can end the conversation at any point by announcing they're keeping him."

That last point from Olney is a key factor in these trade talks. Detroit's front office could quell all trade rumors by announcing its intention to keep him for the 2026 season.

More: Why Tarik Skubal is still Tigers' best offseason trade candidate

But, instead, they're keeping quiet, and as Olney reports, still engaging in trade conversations with teams around Major League Baseball.

The two-time Cy Young award winner won't come cheap, but for a team trying to win it all in 2026, giving up a lot of prospects and other players to land Skubal would be a move well worth it if they can win the World Series.

There's no guarantee such an outcome will happen, which makes the Tigers' extremely high asking price hard to match. If Skubal were under contract for even one more year, then the Tigers could likely get a team to bite on their lofty asking price.

While trade talks are ongoing with the Tigers about Skubal, and the Tigers aren't shutting down those rumors, a deal is still a ways away from completion, if at all.

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Contributing Writer