NL Team Called Top Landing Spot For Tarik Skubal Via Trade
But will he get traded at all?
The Detroit Tigers have arguably the best starting pitcher in the world on their roster in Tarik Skubal.
Even so, with Skubal’s contract set to expire at the end of next season, and with him set to demand upwards of a $450 million contract, many analysts believe the Tigers will trade Skubal, either this offseason or before the trade deadline in July.
With that in mind, on Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly identified what he feels to be the top landing spot for Skubal via trade.
“Detroit hasn’t altogether shut down trade talk regarding the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner,” Kelly wrote. “The Mets … have remade their roster after 28-37 following the All-Star Break. … While Stearns has remade the lineup and bullpen so far, it was the starting rotation that failed the Mets the most down the stretch in 2025. They lacked a stopper. Obviously, Skubal fits that bill as well as anyone right now.”
“The Mets also have the prospect/veteran capital to at least intrigue Scott Harris and the Tigers,” Kelly continued. “Even with Nolan McLean almost certainly off the table, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat are two young arms that could be at the forefront of a deal. Heck, who’s to say the Tigers wouldn’t also have interest in taking back one of the veteran arms in New York’s rotation, with David Peterson, Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea all bounce back candidates to varying degrees. … The Mets are the team with the best mix of need and arms that could satisfy Detroit if they really consider dealing the two-time All-Star.”
Skubal posted a 13-6 record in 2025 with a league-leading 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts, and a 0.89 WHIP over 195 1/3 innings.
Over his six-year career, all with Detroit, Skubal has compiled a 54-37 record, a 3.08 ERA, and 889 strikeouts. Drafted in the ninth round out of Seattle University in 2018, he debuted in 2020 and quickly rose to stardom, overcoming early injuries to become a cornerstone starter.
