Three Tarik Skubal Trade Scenarios

By William Gilhooly

Sportz Nation - 6/13/2026

Photo Credits to Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

As summer begins to heat up, the MLB trade deadline stove is getting hotter. This year could be especially active, with back‑to‑back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal potentially on the block.

Skubal opened the 2026 season strong, posting a 2.70 ERA in seven starts before being shut down because of a loose body in his left elbow.

He underwent surgery May sixth and is set to rejoin the Tigers’ rotation today against the Cleveland Guardians.

A lot has changed since Skubal last pitched for Detroit. On April 29, his final start before the injury, the Tigers were 15–16 and just a half‑game behind Cleveland for the AL Central lead.

They now sit at 29–41 and nine games out of first place.

Detroit’s sharp decline without Skubal has fueled trade speculation, and the Tigers appear to have three realistic paths at the deadline.

Option One:

The Tigers Get Hot and Hold on to Skubal

"Hot" might not even be the right word, because the way the American League has played this season, simply performing at a B‑level pace can keep a team in the wild‑card mix.

Despite everything that has gone wrong, Detroit is still only 5.5 games out of a wild‑card spot.

Even small signs of improvement could give president of baseball operations Jeff Greenberg enough confidence to stick with the current core.

Even if the Tigers keep Skubal and still miss the postseason, they could contend in the coming years, especially in a division not known for heavy spending.

Off-season additions Framber Valdez and Kenley Jansen have struggled, but both have strong enough track records to suggest a rebound next season.

Greenberg also has to accept that players like Skubal are nearly impossible to replace, and trading him carries significant risk if the return doesn’t match his pedigree.

Option Two:

Skubal Is Traded and the Tigers Signal a Rebuild

While the Tigers are only five and-a-half games out of the final wild‑card spot, they would need to leapfrog six teams to get there. That reality may be too much for Greenberg to ignore. With Skubal and fellow starter Casey Mize in the final year of their contracts, Detroit could choose to reset and build a new young core.

The Tigers already have an impressive foundation with Kevin McGonigle, Riley Greene and Keider Montero expected to be major pieces moving forward. Adding a few more near‑MLB‑ready players could delay the championship window but potentially make Detroit more dangerous in the long run.

Contending teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners all have the prospect capital to pursue the Cy Young winner. Combined with Detroit’s already top‑five farm system, a Skubal trade could set the franchise up for a powerful future.

Option Three:

Trade Skubal for Both MLB‑Ready and Prospect Pieces

Because of the weaker AL landscape, a third scenario has emerged. If the Tigers trade Skubal, they could target a package that helps them compete now while also strengthening their farm system.

Realistically, the Dodgers are the only team positioned to meet that type of demand. With a deep group of young big‑league pitchers and a top‑three farm system, Los Angeles could offer Detroit a mix of immediate rotation help and long‑term upside. Pitchers such as Justin Wrobleski, Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone could all be strong fits for the Tigers.

If Detroit were to land a quality arm in return and address its offensive issues, the team could rebound this season and remain competitive for years.

No matter which direction Greenberg chooses, each option carries its own positives and negatives. Ultimately, how the Tigers play over the next two weeks will determine everything, and could dictate whether Tarik Skubal remains in Detroit or becomes the centerpiece of the summer’s biggest trade.

-William Gilhooly