Entering the offseason, many made it seem like the Detroit Tigers were definitely going to move on from Tarik Skubal.
It remains uncertain what the Tigers will actually do on that front, but some of the chatter has started to quiet down.
Reports indicated during the Winter Meetings that the Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers had some level of contact about a potential trade, but those were just whispers and nothing too official.
Regardless of whether the Tigers move on from him, there are a few ways to look at the situation.
More importantly, it’s a guarantee that if he were to be traded, the Tigers would have to get a massive haul in return.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, despite Skubal hitting free agency in 2027, the Tigers are looking for a major haul for his services.
“Then there’s Tarik Skubal, who will continue to be the source of trade rumors from now until next summer’s Trade Deadline. The price tag for Skubal – assuming the Tigers would even move him – will be astronomically high, though if there’s a pitcher worth paying such a haul for, it’s Skubal,” he wrote.
The Tigers trading an ace-caliber pitcher after the way the organization has played in recent years would be very disheartening, but as Detroit has made clear over the past few seasons, the team is always looking to save money.
It’s an unfortunate part of the situation in Detroit, but until the front office and ownership show they’re willing to change, this is likely to continue.
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