Tarik Skubal’s latest brush with free agency is already looking familiar to Tigers fans, and not in a good way.
After the Dodgers were swept out of the NLCS by the Brewers on Thursday night, Skubal was asked about what comes next for him. He didn’t offer much.
“Anyone could've traded for me.”
That was his line after the deal sent him to Los Angeles, and he kept the same careful distance when the questions turned to his future again in the aftermath of the Dodgers’ elimination. Skubal said, “ I'm not going to comment on my future really at all. Today sucks, you know, and that's kind of where my head's at.”
That kind of dodge is nothing new to Detroit.
Tigers fans spent plenty of time wrestling with Skubal’s guarded approach in his final year with the club, especially when it came to his contract situation and free agency. The irritation wasn’t just about privacy.
It was the sense that he never seemed eager to sit down with the Tigers on an extension. Sure, there’s plenty of nuance there, and the Tigers deserve their share of the blame too.
But from the fan side, it looked a lot like a pitcher keeping every card tucked tightly to his chest.
On the field, Skubal’s move to Los Angeles didn’t end with a dream run. He made one start in the NLCS and gave up two earned runs over five innings.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, got handled by Milwaukee for much of the series. In Game 4, they jumped ahead 4-0 in the second inning, then stalled completely from there.
The Brewers kept chipping away, took over the game in the sixth, and finished off a 6-4 win.
The Dodgers are still the team most widely linked to Skubal once he reaches free agency, and that makes plenty of sense. The Mets are also expected to push into the chase, and could be desperate enough to go well past the often-cited $400 million estimate.
One thing seems clear: Skubal isn’t going to make this process easy for anyone. For the Tigers, that part of the script is painfully familiar. And for Dodgers and Mets fans, the ride is just beginning.
In Other News...
Tigers May Be Closing In On An Intriguing International Infield Prospect
The Tigers appear to be circling an intriguing international addition as the January signing period approaches, with reports linking them to 18-year-old shortstop Nam Hyun-woo out of Seoul Convention High School. Nam has drawn attention not only as a KBO draft prospect, but also because of the kind of profile Detroit has shown an interest in building around - a young infielder with room to develop and enough talent to merit a closer look from scouts.
Nothing has been confirmed by the Tigers yet, but the fit is easy to understand from their side. An international signing like this would add another possible piece to the organizations infield pipeline, and the early buzz around Nam suggests there is real belief in his long-term upside. For now, it remains a name to watch once the market opens in January, with Detroits next move still pending. [Read more 🡒]
One Tigers Prospect Could Shift Detroit's Entire Pitching Plan
The Tigers have spent the last few seasons leaning on an influx of young talent, and that wave is still rolling through the organization. Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Hao-Yu Lee, Colt Keith, Jackson Jobe and Troy Melton are all part of the clubs broader youth movement, but the pitching side of the equation has been the more urgent concern after Detroit moved Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize and watched Jack Flaherty head toward free agency.
Into that opening steps Andrew Sears, a left-hander drafted in the 10th round in 2023 who reached the majors in 2026 and suddenly has a chance to matter more than anyone might have guessed. If Sears is able to compete for a rotation job, it could change how aggressively the Tigers need to shop for a mid-range starter this winter, and it gives Detroit another internal option at a time when every bit of pitching depth carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Former Orioles Lefty Finds A New Chance After Brutal Setback
The Tigers have added another arm to their pitching pipeline, signing left-hander Nick Raquet to a two-year minor league contract as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. The deal gives Detroit a low-risk, longer-term bet on a pitcher who will spend the entire 2027 season rehabbing, but whose next opportunity could come once he is healthy again.
For a club that has spent plenty of time sorting through pitching depth, the move is as much about patience as it is about upside. Raquet now has some security while he recovers, and the Tigers are planning around a 2028 return if everything progresses as expected. For a player coming off such a brutal setback, it is at least a clear path forward. [Read more 🡒]