The San Francisco Giants keep saying they want pitching — just not that kind of pitching. And that may take them out of the running for Tarik Skubal if the Detroit Tigers ever decide to move their Cy Young winner.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said pitching was the offseason focus, but owner Greg Johnson has since drawn a financial line. In a recent Q&A with The San Francisco Chronicle, Johnson made it clear the team isn’t chasing long-term deals for any starter this winter. “We’re hesitant about any pitcher on long-term deals when we have a young core sitting there,” he said.
That stance effectively narrows the market.
San Francisco can chase short-term names like Merrill Kelly or Chris Bassitt, but not go after a blockbuster deal that changes your standing in the NL West — or your payroll for years.
Which is exactly what trading for Skubal would require.
The 29-year-old lefty has one arbitration year left (2026) before free agency in 2027. The Detroit Tigers have not committed to keeping him, and reports are that they are wide apart on extension talks. That has fueled talk that Detroit is likely to trade him.
Any team trading for him would need to go long-term or risk a one-year rental at peak value. Unless a club is on the cusp of a World Series run or ready to extend him immediately, the math doesn’t work.
That’s why Skubal’s trade value lives at the intersection of win-now urgency and financial commitment.
For the Giants, who have struggled to land big-name free agents like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, a trade-and-sign was one way to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers and get back into October. They have rotation-depth questions, but also a payroll that stretches only “in the right situation” — and Johnson hinted this isn’t it.
If Detroit does make Skubal available, San Francisco might admire from afar. The Giants need pitching, yes, but apparently not the kind that comes with a nine-figure, long-term extension. And that could be the difference between building around a true ace and watching one take the mound for the Dodgers next October.
