MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding Tarik Skubal prior to the Trade Deadline on Aug. 3.
July 28: Teams expected to start calling Tigers about Skubal
According to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, some rival executives have refrained from calling the Tigers about Skubal, trying to be respectful as the club has fought to remain in contention. But after Detroit lost its third straight game on Monday, multiple teams were planning to reach out to president of baseball operations Scott Harris, including the Rays, Brewers, Braves, Yankees and Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ interest in Skubal has been the subject of much debate this summer, and that’s continued this week. The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that a Skubal blockbuster was not likely to be part of the Dodgers’ Trade Deadline plans. However, The Athletic’s Katie Woo (subscription required) has heard otherwise, reporting that the club plans to “remain engaged” on Skubal.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (NY Post subscription required), the Dodgers are telling people that they believe Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow will all be back in their rotation soon, and that they don’t need another top starter. But rival teams nonetheless have been fearing the possibility of L.A. landing Skubal.
Skubal’s trade status also has been up in the air, as the Tigers haven’t given up on the hope of making a playoff run. Detroit’s three-game losing streak hasn’t helped in that regard — the club’s playoff odds (per FanGraphs) dropped below 25% after Monday’s loss, down from 42.4% through Friday. They entered Tuesday four games out in the race for the third AL Wild Card spot at 50-57, with five teams in front of them.
July 22: Tigers ‘mulling the possibility’ of a Skubal deal
Less than two weeks from the Deadline, it’s still anyone’s guess as to whether the Tigers will trade Skubal. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that the “growing sentiment among rival executives” is that Detroit will hang on to Skubal, although ESPN still gives Skubal a 60% chance of being traded.
So, what might the framework of a potential Skubal deal look like? Multiple rival executives briefed on the Tigers’ thinking told Rosenthal and Sammon that Detroit won’t trade Skubal without acquiring a young, MLB-ready starting pitcher. On top of that, the club would also want multiple prospects.
Read more about which teams might be able to meet that asking price here.
