Two reasons Detroit Tigers could survive Tarik Skubal trade
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Two reasons Detroit Tigers could survive Tarik Skubal trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Detroit Tigers fans may have trouble digesting reality, but for long-term franchise stability, president of baseball operations Scott Harris may trade Tarik Skubal before the MLB trade deadline.
A popular pick to claim the AL Central pennant, the Tigers remain poised to start 2026 with one of the league’s top rotations, headlined by the back-to-back Cy Young award recipient.
Any proposed deal for Skubal, who earned a one-year, $32 million arbitration ruling in February, could produce a bounty of top-end prospects for an already highly rated farm system. But to re-sign the Scott Boras client, the Tigers may have to agree to establish one of the most expensive player contracts in league history. Skubal reportedly seeks a $450 million deal.
Should the Tigers invest that much in a Hall of Fame-trending talent?
Harris has until Aug. 3 to decide.
If the Tigers execute a mid-season blockbuster, despite their World Series aspirations, two recent roster additions, Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, could help them remain contenders:
Detroit Tigers counting on Framber Valdez
Valdez's free-agent signing was intended to provide the Tigers’ staff with a second left-handed ace. If Skubel ends up getting moved, the rotation will maintain one of the league's top lefties.
In limited spring action, Valdez continued to justify the three-year, $115 million contract by posting two wins, a quality start and a 0.98 earned-run average in 18.1 innings.
Skubal received the nod for Thursday's regular-season opener against the host San Diego Padres. Valdez is scheduled to start Friday.
Talk about a 1-2 punch. But for how long?
Justin Verlander seeks successful return
At the back end of the Tigers’ rotation, Verlander returned to his original organization and looked, at times, this spring, like he could bridge the rotation’s ace-level talent until top prospect Jackson Jobe (Tommy John surgery) returns at the end of this season or next spring.
Eight years after the Tigers traded Verlander to the Houston Astros in a deadline deal, the future Hall of Famer agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract, bolstering the starting staff. The 43-year-old veteran continues to evolve. During a March 2 start versus the San Francisco Giants, he introduced a sweeping curveball, which creates additional vertical movement, as compared to his traditional curve.
Verlander worked 4.1 innings last Tuesday, yielding one run and striking out six against the Baltimore Orioles, marking his most efficient spring outing. His first regular-season start remains slated for March 30 in the series opener at the Arizona Diamondbacks.
If the Tigers end up facing a post-Skubal reality before the trade deadline, Valdez and Verlander remain in line to keep them in contention.