Tarik Skubal, Tigers Given Surprising Prediction Amid Trade Buzz

The Detroit Tigers and their fan base have been dealing with Tarik Skubal trade rumors all season long. Analysts have been basically saying that he’ll ultimately be traded because Detroit stands no chance to re-sign him beyond 2026.

But what if the Tigers simply choose to ride out all of next season with Skubal?

This is something that Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly explored in a new article.

“One of the reasons the Tigers have at least not hung up on teams that have called on two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal this offseason is that if he begins his contract year in Detroit, it’s going to be virtually impossible to trade him during the season,” Kelly wrote on Monday.

“We can debate whether president of baseball operations Scott Harris has done enough this offseason to help the Tigers go from a team that can compete in the weak AL Central to a team that can win a World Series in Skubal’s potential final campaign in Detroit.”

“However, A.J. Hinch’s squad almost certainly is going to be in the playoff picture enough that there would be a mutiny among players and fans if they considered trading baseball’s best arm in the summer,” Kelly continued.”

“Beyond that, it would take an earth-shattering amount to acquire Skubal. It would be risky to trade what it would take to get him this winter, but at least you would get a full season with him and have the ability to extend a qualifying offer to him after the season.”

“Major-market clubs like the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees aren’t going to gut their farm system this summer to acquire Skubal as a rental when they can just spend dollars on him in the offseason,” Kelly added.

“Considering all those factors, if Skubal takes the ball for the Tigers on Opening Day, he’s going to finish the season in Detroit. Next offseason, the Tigers will be able to give him a QO and recoup draft-pick compensation if the Scott Boras client indeed signs elsewhere in free agency.”