Tigers might consider trading Tarik Skubal, but only if one thing happens

The Detroit Tigers know they possess one of the best pitchers in the game, and many other teams covet him. They are unwilling to let him go easily, but according to a report from Bob Nightengale, the club is demanding a big offer if anyone wants to acquire Tarik Skubal.

“The Tigers will at least listen on Skubal, but would have to be completely overwhelmed,” Nightengale wrote for USA Today. “Considering that teams know that he won’t sign an extension and plans to hit free agency in a year commanding the biggest deal for a pitcher in history, no one will dare up give up more than two top-10 prospects. The Tigers are expected to hang onto him until at least the July 2026 trade deadline.”

For the 2025 season, Skubal earned a salary of $10.15 million, and he is expected to receive around $22.5 million in 2026. However, as Nightengale affirms, the Tigers would be willing to entertain a truly valuable offer for the pitcher who closed the 2025 season with a 2.21 ERA.

Mets reportedly among teams interested in Skubal

According to an article by Mike Puma for the New York Post, Mets officials are already analyzing how difficult, but not impossible, it would be to acquire Skubal. Just as Nightengale mentioned, the team that wants him would need to include young arms in negotiations with the Tigers.

“Mets officials have spoken internally about Skubal, who turns 29 this month. The belief within is it would take four top prospects to acquire Skubal — perhaps three rated in organization’s the top 10 and another within the top 20,” Puma wrote on the New York Post.

see also

The best pitchers in MLB history: Ranking the most dominant arms ever

Puma also mentions that Skubal’s agent could complicate any negotiations: “The chance of the Mets (or any team) extending Skubal before his contract expires is lessened by the fact he is represented by Scott Boras, who more often than not takes his clients to free agency.”