A lot of weird, unexpected stuff has gone on around MLB through the first month and a half of the season, and one of the biggest surprises among that has been the struggles of the Detroit Tigers. They sit second-last in the American League with a 20-32 record, and more importantly, are just 2-15 since ace Tarik Skubal landed on the IL following elbow surgery.
That disastrous stretch has not only shown Skubal’s importance to the Tigers, but it also has clouded his already uncertain future with the team, as they now appear almost certain to be sellers come the trade deadline.
Combine that with a recent report suggesting the chances of a Skubal trade are rising, and the rumor mill is officially buzzing.
Skubal is, of course, in a contract year and due for a massive new deal. Given Detroit’s freefall, it feels more likely than ever that it could come elsewhere. So, let’s dive into the top landing spots for the two-time Cy Young Award winner should he be on the move in the coming months.
New York Yankees
The time is now for the New York Yankees, and Skubal should absolutely remain their top trade target—perhaps only behind Paul Skenes, if he were somehow ever available.
Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez, any other top prospects, you name it—whatever it takes to get Skubal in pinstripes, Brian Cashman should be willing to do it.
A rotation featuring Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and now a healthy Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon is already loaded. Add Skubal to the top of that group, and you might have the best five-man unit in all of baseball.
Pair that pitching staff with their potent lineup, and the Yankees would have as good a chance as ever to end their World Series drought in the Aaron Judge era.
Embed from Getty ImagesNew York is just meant to have this kind of star power.
Toronto Blue Jays
They may not look quite like last year’s World Series team, but the Toronto Blue Jays are still firmly in a window to win, so expect them to continue swinging big.
Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Trey Yesavage form a lethal top three in Toronto’s rotation, but after that, there are plenty of question marks—not to mention the lack of a left-handed arm. Enter Skubal.
Toronto has steadily improved its prospect pool in recent years and has younger major-league talent it could package together to make a compelling offer.
Winning the AL East in 2025 was great, but you can’t rest on your laurels in such a loaded division. The Blue Jays know that, and if a player like Skubal becomes available, they have to be all over it.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Speaking of whenever a star player becomes available in MLB, you know the Los Angeles Dodgers have to be strongly considered. We’ve seen it time and time again, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.
Not only do the Dodgers have the financial power to acquire almost anyone they want, but they also churn out prospects as well as any organization in baseball. That combination makes them a frontrunner for star talent at all times.
Los Angeles’ rotation is ever-changing because of injuries, so they could absolutely use one of the best arms in the game—even with the big names they already have.
A three-peat will be extremely difficult, but if they somehow land Skubal, it’s hard to imagine anyone beating them.
Philadelphia Phillies
After a disastrous start to the season, Don Mattingly has steadied the ship in Philadelphia, and the Phillies once again look like serious contenders. Outside of the Dodgers and Yankees, few teams in baseball are more clearly in win-now mode with their current core.
Because of that, no prospect should be off limits in a potential Skubal deal, and the Phillies may need to surrender one or two premium pieces if they want to win the sweepstakes.
Philadelphia isn’t lacking an ace with Cristopher Sanchez and a healthy Zack Wheeler, but this is Skubal we’re talking about—and you can never have too much elite pitching.
If the Phillies truly want to compete with the Dodgers of the world, this is the kind of move they need to explore. The status quo has shown to simply not be quite good enough in the past.
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