Every year, the same question surfaces about the Detroit Tigers: will they trade Tarik Skubal?
Every year, the answer gets closer to no.
MLB insider Jon Heyman addressed the Skubal trade speculation head-on this week, and his take was blunt: the trade is unlikely. Heyman noted that Skubal is in his final year of club control, set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, and that the Tigers would rather take the qualifying offer draft pick compensation than sell low on the best pitcher in the American League.
That assessment lines up with what the Tigers have been saying all year. Detroit has maintained publicly that it has no plans to trade Skubal. The Tigers are not rebuilding. They are trying to win now, and trading the centerpiece of your rotation in the middle of a competitive season is not something contending teams do.
There is a complication. Skubal was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 1 and underwent surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies. Elbow surgery on a pitcher is never a small thing, even when the procedure is described as minor. The Tigers expect him back this season, but the timeline matters. If Skubal misses significant time, the trade deadline conversation shifts from “will they trade him” to “can they afford not to.” A healthy Skubal on a contending team is worth keeping. An injured Skubal on a team that is fading is a different calculation entirely.
The Tigers did not make Skubal a long-term extension offer during the offseason, which tells you where the financial relationship stands. Skubal, who is 29 years old, is expected to command the largest pitching contract in MLB history when he hits free agency next winter. The Tigers are not going to match that number. They know it. Skubal knows it. The question is whether Detroit can squeeze one more playoff run out of him before he leaves.
Heyman’s reporting suggests the Tigers believe they can. The trade deadline is July 29. Between now and then, the Tigers’ record and Skubal’s health will determine whether the front office changes its mind. But right now, the reigning Cy Young winner is staying in Detroit, and anyone expecting a blockbuster Skubal trade should probably lower their expectations.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
