BREAKING: Tigers Put No Limits On Tarik Skubal, Trade Talks Ignite
The Detroit Tigers just kicked the door open at the Winter Meetings. Team president Scott Harris told me the club has no untouchables. That includes Tarik Skubal, the best pitcher in the American League for two straight years. Phones lit up within minutes. Executives know exactly what that means. The reigning Cy Young winner is in play.
The Ace At The Center Of It All
Skubal is the type of arm that changes a season on Day 1. He won the AL Cy Young in 2024 and 2025. His 2025 line is video game stuff, a 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts, and 195 1/3 innings. He held hitters flat, then finished games with bite. He is 28, in his prime, and his stuff travels in any park.
Detroit has built its new identity around him. He sets the tone with pace, strike throwing, and an edge that lifts the dugout. At Comerica Park, his starts feel like events. Kids wear his number. Teammates follow his lead. That is what makes today so jarring, and powerful.
Skubal is a two-time AL Cy Young winner, entering his final year of team control after a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 2025.
Why Detroit Would Even Consider It
This is about time and leverage. Skubal is one year from free agency. Extension talks have not moved. The number to keep him will be massive. There is no salary cap, and deep-pocket clubs will line up. Detroit can push in now, or it can use this moment to restock with a haul it may never see again.
The Tigers are threading a needle. They believe they can win the AL Central. They also know that a return for Skubal today could bring multiple core pieces. Think an MLB-ready bat, a top rotation prospect, and more. That is the type of package front offices chase for a decade.
The Tigers are not forced to trade Skubal. Their stance is simple, they will listen, and only a franchise-changing offer moves them.
There is risk both ways. Hold him, and you chase a title with your ace. You also risk injury or a market you cannot match next winter. Trade him, and you gain years of control, but you tear a hole in your rotation that no one arm on the roster can fill.
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If Detroit waits and Skubal walks in free agency, the club gets only a draft pick. That is a small return for a pitcher of this caliber.
The Market Just Shifted
Rival executives I spoke with today did not hesitate. The Dodgers are the most obvious fit. They have money, prospects, and a win-now clock that never stops. The price will be steep, and Los Angeles can meet it.
Other clubs are lining up their boards. Some contenders have the prospect depth to hang in this fight. Others have the cash to extend him on arrival. That mix will drive the market.
Logical Suitors Right Now
- Dodgers, elite system, elite budget, title window wide open
- Orioles, prospect capital, need an ace for October
- Mariners, arms to trade, playoff push, fit with home park
- Giants, rotation need, payroll room, execs hungry to land a star
Any Skubal deal would reshape two races at once. The club that gets him becomes a favorite to win its league. Detroit would pivot, deepen the roster, and bet on volume. October gets rewritten in December.
Inside The Clubhouse, Inside The City
A move like this hits more than spreadsheets. A.J. Hinch manages urgency well, but losing your day one starter changes the daily vibe. This roster has grown up around work and pitching. It is the Detroit way, lunch pail baseball, get the last six outs and shake hands.
Fans will feel torn. They want stars to stay. They also want parades down Woodward Avenue. If Harris finds the right offer, he will be judged on rings, not press releases. That is the reality of baseball in a league that rewards bold timing as much as talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Tarik Skubal actually available?
A: Yes. Detroit has told clubs no player is off limits. The Tigers will listen and expect elite offers.
Q: What would a trade cost?
A: Think a top five prospect, an MLB-ready piece, and at least one more high-end talent. The bar is very high.
Q: Could the Tigers still extend him?
A: It is possible. Talks have stalled, but a deal can happen if both sides find the number soon.
Q: When could a deal happen?
A: The Winter Meetings window is hot. If not this week, talks could stretch into January as teams reshape bids.
Q: Can Detroit contend without Skubal?
A: Yes, with help. They would need to add pitching and hit on the pieces they get back to balance the rotation.
Detroit just changed the offseason. A franchise ace is on the table, and the room knows the stakes. If the Tigers cash in now, they aim to buy a longer window. If they hold and push to October, they bet on the best left arm in the league. The clock is ticking, and every contender is calling.
