Cy Young ace becomes biggest trade chip as Skubal rumors intensify

Tarik Skubal is close to returning from his injury, yet the Detroit Tigers might be forced to make a tough choice. As reported by Yahoo Sports, when factoring in the team's performance, payroll constraints, and remaining contract years, shipping the Cy Young pitcher to a championship-caliber team around the trade deadline could be the optimal path for the organization's long-term interests.

Now 29 years old, Skubal has been one of the most dominant starting pitchers in MLB over the past two seasons. He has won back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards and this year earned a $32 million contract through salary arbitration, setting a new record for arbitration-eligible pitchers. He is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, and if the Tigers fail to reach an extension, they risk losing him for nothing.

Making matters worse, the Tigers have struggled all season. The team has been plagued by injuries, and their overall performance deteriorated sharply after Skubal underwent elbow surgery in early May. During his absence, the team kept losing and has now fallen to the bottom half of the AL Central. Although Skubal has recently shown signs of being nearly fully recovered, many believe one ace alone cannot completely turn around the entire team's fortunes.

As a result, media outlets are urging the Tigers to follow their past rebuilding model and trade Skubal while his value is at its peak. Since the left-hander still possesses elite talent and has at least one more season of control, he is expected to attract multiple contending teams and could bring back several top prospects and young major-league-ready players. Teams with playoff aspirations, including the Dodgers, Cubs, and Padres, have been named as potential suitors. If a deal goes through, it would be the biggest move of this trade season and could reshape the MLB landscape for years to come.