Trade rumors surround Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who enters his walk year after winning his second straight American League Cy Young Award. The 29-year-old left-hander's future beyond 2025 remains uncertain, with the Tigers focusing on the present. CBS Sports identifies five teams best equipped to offer a blockbuster deal.
Tarik Skubal has emerged as one of Major League Baseball's premier pitchers, posting a 2.30 ERA with an 180 ERA+ and a 6.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 62 starts in the last two seasons. His performance equates to approximately 13 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. Despite this dominance, the Tigers' owner Chris Ilitch expressed little optimism about a long-term commitment, stating in October, "We're in 2025 right now... We're just going to focus on the playoffs and really just focus on the game in front of us."
The organization faces three paths: an extension, a trade, or delaying a decision until next summer, with a trade viewed as the least desirable option due to its impact on competitiveness. However, speculation persists about potential suitors, ranked by their ability to assemble compelling packages.
The Los Angeles Dodgers top the list, fresh off back-to-back World Series titles with a rotation featuring Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. Executive Andrew Friedman has indicated willingness to make value-inequitable deals for championships, saying, "If you expect to win a deal from a value standpoint in July, you're not going to make deals." Their farm system includes outfielders Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, and Mike Sirota, plus big-league-ready talents like Dalton Rushing and Alex Freeland.
The New York Mets, motivated after missing the playoffs, offer prospects such as outfielders Carson Benge and Jett Williams, and pitchers Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. Executive David Stearns previously pursued Garrett Crochet, who landed with the Boston Red Sox.
The Seattle Mariners, where Skubal played college ball at Seattle University, boast prospects like catcher Harry Ford and pitchers Kade Anderson and Jurrangelo Cijntje, following their ALCS loss.
The Boston Red Sox, who acquired Crochet last December, could pair him with Skubal and include players like Triston Casas, Wilyer Abreu, and Franklin Arias.
The Baltimore Orioles, who traded for Corbin Burnes recently, have emerging talents like Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Esteban Mejia, though their farm system has thinned.