Detroit Tigers Face Critical Decision on Tarik Skubal Amid Struggles

After making the playoffs in 2025, the Detroit Tigers front office aimed to repeat success in 2026. They signed Framber Valdez, a highly-rated pitcher, acquired Kenley Jansen to bolster their bullpen, and retained Gleyber Torres with a costly qualifying offer. They also invested $150 million in top prospect Kevin McGonigle to secure his peak performance years. Crucially, they chose not to trade Tarik Skubal.

Skubal, who claimed his second straight Cy Young Award in 2025, has been considered one of the best pitchers currently. He approaches free agency post-2026 and was expected to set new contract records before his injury, making a Detroit extension unlikely. Ensuring a title now would make his potential free agency departure worthwhile. However, as the season hit June, the Tigers stumbled. Skubal has been sidelined since early May with an elbow injury.

The Tigers, previously excelling in 2025, found themselves with the third worst offense and defense in 2026 according to FanGraphs. Their starting pitchers performed above average, but the bullpen struggled significantly. Despite Jansen’s presence, they are second in the league with 14 blown saves and at the bottom of win probability added. Meanwhile, Cleveland ranks first and leads the division at 34-26, while Detroit lags behind at 22-37, 11.5 games away from the top.

MLB experts foresee the Dodgers potentially acquiring Skubal in a major trade.

Trading Skubal has become a viable option. Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic reported an increasing likelihood of Skubal being moved. “It’s trending that way,” mentioned Rosenthal during an MLB on FOX pregame. The Tigers face a steep challenge, sitting 14 games below .500, complicating a potential recovery even in a less competitive American League. The concern now centers on Skubal’s health.

Returning from elbow surgery, Skubal could be back by mid to late June, providing the Tigers with about a month before the trade deadline to decide. If Skubal returns healthy, numerous teams will show interest. Rosenthal noted, “He’s going to throw again Monday and face hitters,” emphasizing potential strong demand for Skubal.

Mark Feinsand from MLB.com spoke with various league executives, most predicting Skubal’s trade. “I would think they try to move him at the Deadline if they are this far out of contention,” one NL executive noted. With no plans to extend his contract, the Tigers may seek what’s best for the franchise.

The Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, and a wildcard possibility, the Milwaukee Brewers, have been linked to Skubal. Despite nearing free agency, Skubal’s ability could still fetch a significant return. His performance could tip the balance in postseason games for any team willing to acquire him. Big-market teams might aggressively pursue him, hoping for a contract extension before free agency looms. Teams, valuing top-tier performance, find Skubal fitting this criterion perfectly, and he may join a new team in the coming weeks.

Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.