Fresh Yankees Trade Package For Tarik Skubal Surfaces
Would the Tigers do this?
If the New York Yankees were to continue to pursue Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal via trade, what would a package look like?
In a piece for Bleacher Report, Zachary D. Rymer suggested a Yankees package that might tempt Detroit, focusing on young arms and position players.
The proposed trade: New York Yankees get LHP Tarik Skubal; Detroit Tigers get RHP Cam Schlittler, SS George Lombard Jr. (MLB No. 32), and OF Spencer Jones
Rymer referenced recent reports: “As Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported on January 23, the Yankees’ attempt to engage with the Tigers on Skubal returned a harsh message: ‘they don’t have the necessary trade chips,'” he wrote. “If any package can make Detroit change its stance, though, one headlined by Schlittler and Lombard is the Yankees’ best hope.”
Rymer also praised New York’s young talent: “Schlittler was an anonymous prospect this time last year, but then he was the best (and certainly most exciting) pitcher the Yankees had by the end of the year. He’ll only turn 25 on February 5, so he has his whole career ahead of him.” Rymer added that Lombard projects as a power-hitting infielder, while Jones could debut soon with his potent bat.
Skubal would obviously bolster New York’s rotation, which faltered in key moments last season, but Rymer also acknowledged reasons why this trade wouldn’t happen, comparing it to the Juan Soto situation.
“That worked out in that it helped get them to the World Series, but then they learned that all the goodwill they thought they bought counted for nothing once Soto hit free agency and found a better offer,” Rymer wrote.
Indeed, if the Yankees gave up these assets for Skubal and then failed to re-sign him next offseason, it would be seen as an unmitigated disaster.
