It remains the No. 1 question on everyone’s lips as we get closer to the Deadline: Will the Tigers actually trade two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal?
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported on Tuesday that the “growing sentiment among rival executives” is that the Tigers will hang onto their ace and try to make a playoff push.
However, ESPN still gives Skubal a 60% chance of being traded. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi said during Wednesday’s edition of MLB Central that multiple general managers believe “there is a slightly better than 50-50 chance that Skubal will be moved.” In short, it’s still anyone’s guess as to whether a deal will go down.
Multiple rival executives briefed on the Tigers’ thinking told Rosenthal and Sammon that the Tigers could accomplish their goal by trading their ace for a young, MLB-ready starting pitcher and multiple prospects. Gonzalez adds that the Tigers won’t trade Skubal without getting such a player in return for their rotation.
The Athletic mentions the Yankees’ Ryan Weathers and the Phillies’ Andrew Painter as pitchers who could fill the void in Detroit’s rotation for this season and for seasons to come. But rival evaluators told Gonzalez that the team that matches up best for a Skubal deal is the Dodgers.
The Tigers are 4-4 in their past eight games. With only 12 days remaining until the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, they are five games out of a playoff spot. They also have five teams standing between them and a postseason berth.
