Tarik Skubal popped up at the Arizona Fall League this week, taking in Scottsdale–Mesa at Sloan Park on Nov. 4 and posting about Tigers' top prospect Kevin McGonigle. The league’s channels and Detroit’s own social team flagged it; fans pushed photos and clips across timelines.
With the trade rumors swirling around Skubal, the image looked like a “Tiger for life” postcard. It’s also more complicated.
The Tigers’ ace is investing in the next wave, hyping a 21-year-old infielder who just spent October and early November torching AFL pitching. McGonigle went 4-for-5 with two homers in that 21–14 slugfest and has been on a heater all month. McGonigle’s bat gives the organization permission to dream on a deeper, more balanced core—and Skubal watching it up close feeds the franchise-pillar narrative.
Skubal didn’t have to show up for the Tigers’ top prospect even though he lives in Arizona. That’s above and beyond and it certainly can lead Tigers fans to believe he’s invested in Detroit’s future.
As Motor City Bengals’ Emma Lingen wrote: “If Skubal were mentally checking out or anticipating a post-2026 exit, he’d likely be more focused on his own offseason routine and future market than on the Tigers’ farm system. But by taking the time to watch McGonigle, the organization’s top hitting prospect, Skubal is showing investment in the next wave. That’s the kind of thing long-term franchise pillars do; they care about who’s coming next because they expect to be part of that future core.”
But baseball is a business.
Skubal is under team control through 2026 and then hits free agency. His final arbitration year looms, with one public projection putting his 2026 salary at $22.5 million. The extension smoke has never turned into fire.
New York Post columnist Jon Heyman reported a sizable gap between the sides. Detroit is facing a franchise-changing decision. Do they extend at a true ace number, trade at value, or ride it out and keep pushing the window?
Scott Harris has been asked repeatedly if they’d move him. His answer has been a version of: Skubal’s a Tiger, I’m not commenting on trades.
That’s not comforting for Tigers fans.
Predictably, that has fanned the trade rumors.
The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox have been linked to the reigning Cy Young Award winner and 2025 finalist.
Skubal’s appearance at the AFL was a sign that he is interested in the Tigers' future, now the Detroit brass has to figure out if they can make Skubal a part of that long-term future.
