Detroit Tigers make big demands in Tarik Skubal trade, will AL bad history keep him in town?
It’s rare for a player of Tarik Skubal’s caliber to be found on the open market.
He is the reigning Cy Young Award winner in the American League. He has been one of the most consistent hitters in Major League Baseball. He offers a rare combination of highs that can miss bats when needed and command and control to avoid putting extra runners on base.
To their credit, the Detroit Tigers held on to Skubal last season, despite heavy interest from other clubs. Instead, the team’s ownership and front office doubled down on their surprising 2025 season, coming just short of the ALCS after losing to the Seattle Mariners. They added Framber Valdez, one of the free agent starters available. They brought back Gleyber Torres and Justin Verlander, then added Kenley Jansen to stabilize the back end of the bullpen.
TARIK SKUBAL ENTERS THE BIG GAME INTO THE OPPONENT’S DUGOUT AFTER A HIT, HELD BY THE TEAM’S OFFICER
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after hitting Chicago White Sox third baseman Colson Montgomery with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on June 19, 2026. (Photos by Lon Horwedel/Imagn)
But despite playing in one of the worst leagues in modern baseball history, the Tigers as of Thursday afternoon are 34-46. They are 7.5 games back in the AL Central, and five games back in the third-place playoff race. And therein lies the difficulty.
There are five teams ahead of the Tigers in the American League standings. Skubal recently returned from an arm injury that required surgery, and he hasn’t been able to really dominate since rejoining the rotation. His pace is slightly off in 2026 compared to 2025, but his record is as good as anyone’s. And the AL this season is so tough that even at 34-46, Detroit could have a path to postseason baseball.
All of these factors make a potential trade difficult, which is why it’s no surprise that Detroit is making huge demands on any team interested in acquiring Skubal in order to move forward on their own.
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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Tigers are asking to be ridden under team control for several years, with hitters close to reaching the major leagues. Heyman also reported that, at least since the New York Yankees, the Tigers wanted their No. 1 prospect. Both are highly regarded, with Lombard widely viewed as the top 20 prospect in baseball. The Yankees, reportedly, apologized.
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox to end the top of the fifth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on June 19, 2026. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
That’s a small return for a player who is only under contract at the end of the season. Especially one represented by Scott Boras, which means he’s unlikely to sign an extension before reaching free agency. But Skubal isn’t just any player, and Detroit can make big demands, given the position they’re in.
Surprisingly, going into Wednesday’s game, there were only two teams in the AL with a positive run differential. They were eighth in the National League. The Chicago White Sox, who lead Detroit’s division, are just 41-38, outscored by three runs on the year. Detroit can tell other teams they’re willing to hang on to Skubal, thinking one hot streak could get them back into contention.
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Detroit pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts during the MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves on April 29, 2026, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. (Rich Von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)
While the trade deadline is more than a month away, the Tigers can catch the opposition over the barrel. Looking for Skubal now? Give us your two best prospects and a major league pitcher. Or we’ll just hang on to him, see if we can get back on track. Or are you willing to risk waiting until the end of July and missing out if the Dodgers come in?
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It’s one of the strangest situations and questions we’ve seen in baseball. But it looks like Detroit is willing to trade Skubal. If someone is aggressive enough to meet the asking price.
