Tigers weigh trading Tarik Skubal as free agency looms

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal could be on the move this offseason as Major League Baseball clubs weigh whether to pursue the left-hander amid a stalled contract picture and his looming free agency. Industry sources say rival teams expect Detroit to seriously consider trading Skubal if it can obtain the high-end prospect or major-league return it seeks, with several clubs identified as leading suitors.

Skubal, a former American League Cy Young Award winner and a finalist again this year, is under team control only through the 2026 season. He posted a 13-6 record in 2025 with a 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts and a 0.891 WHIP across 195 innings. Over the past two seasons he has a combined 2.30 ERA with 469 strikeouts in 387.1 innings, and he has produced a 2.04 ERA across six postseason starts. Those numbers make him one of the most coveted starting pitchers on the market, but also set up a high-stakes decision for Detroit: attempt a costly long-term extension or trade him now to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency.

Potential fits frequently mentioned include the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Seattle Mariners, though teams in several large markets are expected to be...