The Detroit Tigers are entering an interesting offseason, as teams around Major League Baseball are keeping a close eye on what the Tigers will do.
Not because they're a top contender planning to spend, but rather for what the team does with two-time Cy Young ace Tarik Skubal. He's not going to sign a new contract before hitting free agency, making a trade something that can't be written off.
However, ESPN MLB insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel shared an update on the Tigers' plans with Skubal this winter. And unfortunately for other top contenders, a trade of Skubal doesn't seem like a realistic option.
Tigers' Tarik Skubal gets trade plan update from ESPN insiders
"Despite several executives believing Skubal will move," Passan and McDaniel write, "the Tigers have shown no sign of deviating from their position that the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner will stay in Detroit."
Plenty of teams around MLB would love to trade for Skubal, even at the very expensive price tag. But, as McDaniel and Passan note, the Tigers have no plans to move Skubal. They predict his chances of being traded at just 10%.
The Tigers are looking to contend in 2026, and trading Skubal would be counterproductive for such a plan. Skubal gives Detroit a chance to win the World Series if the rest of the roster comes into form.
More: How Tigers' GM Scott Harris might've revealed his concerning Tarik Skubal plan
Moving on from Skubal isn't feasible for Detroit, barring a team overpaying for just one season of Skubal. Detroit isn't likely to see such an offer, as no team will be able to sign Skubal beyond the 2026 season, regardless of how much they trade for him.
No team is likely to overspend for Skubal, as it's too big a risk. While Skubal is an incredible player and would bolster a team's World Series odds, the future risk might be too great if they give up a ton of assets and lose Skubal after one year.
McDaniel and Passan indicate that with the Tigers' plan to contend, there's no intention for Skubal to be traded. Barring a package that's impossible to refuse, Skubal will play out his final year in Detroit before hitting free agency.
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