Tarik Skubal Breaks Silence On Trade Rumors As Red Sox Explore Market

Coming off a postseason appearance, Craig Breslow noted the Boston Red Sox may be looking to improve their starting rotation this winter. The Red Sox added Garrett Crochet last offseason, and Breslow said the Red Sox will only be pursuing pitching additions that can slot in near him at the top of the rotation.

Crochet is a clear ace and finished as the American League Cy Young Award runner-up. If the Red Sox want a frontline starter, it will have to be someone better than Garrett Crochet or the current No. 2 starter, Brayan Bello. How about the only American League pitcher better than Crochet last season?

Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers are reportedly far apart on contract negotiations, and his name has been floating around in trade rumors. He would be a great fit on the Red Sox, but he spoke on what he thinks of the trade rumors during an appearance on “Foul Territory.”

“The way social media is, it’s hard not to see things about yourself,” Skubal said on Thursday. “Especially when it’s talking about trades and hypotheticals. At the end of the day, it’s not going to impact who I am on a day-to-day basis. It’s not going to impact the way I’m going to work out or prepare to get my body ready for next season. It’s all out of my control. It’s not like I want to be traded, so it’s kind of like, why am I in these conversations to begin with?”

Skubal still has one year left before he hits free agency. The reason rumors are flying is that he figures to become the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, and the Tigers historically have not spent that much money.

Skubal’s next contract could reach $400 million in total value, and the Tigers have not shown any reason to believe they will pay him that much. Given that there are already reports about the two sides being far apart, trade rumors are not abnormal. However, Skubal also spoke on how reports of his contract negotiations may be unreliable.

“I don’t really know where they come up with these numbers,” Skubal said on “Foul Territory.”

As good a fit as Skubal would be for the Red Sox, he has made it clear he has not requested a trade, nor does he want to be traded. However, that may not change the fact that if the Tigers know they will not be able to afford him on the open market, they could shop him to see what return he could yield.

If the Red Sox want a frontline starter, they could check in on Skubal, but he is not the only pitcher who could fill their needs. There are options like Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez and Framber Valdez on the open market, but it’s hard to deny Skubal would be the best addition the team could make. Whether he is available or not should not change the Red Sox’s desire to add an elite starter.