Tarik Skubal’s name has been kicked around in trade chatter all month, but the Tigers ace apparently isn’t interested in changing uniforms.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Skubal has told friends close to him that he wants to remain with Detroit through the 2026 season. Nightengale wrote that Skubal “badly” wants to stay in Detroit the rest of the season, believes the Tigers have “a legitimate shot at the World Series,” and has “zero appetite to be traded.”
That stance stands out because of how much uncertainty still hangs over his future. Skubal is a back-to-back Cy Young winner, and the gap in contract talks has only added fuel to the idea that he could be moved before he reaches free agency after 2026.
Still, Skubal’s public tone has matched the private report. He recently said, “I've never lost faith.”
Detroit’s record doesn’t exactly scream contender right now at 44-51, but the Tigers are only 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, which keeps them in the mix. A rough finish to July, though, could push the club into seller mode ahead of the August 3 trade deadline.
If that happens, Skubal may not get his wish. He does not have a no-trade clause, which means the Tigers could still decide to deal him even if he wants to stay put.
That’s the tension hanging over Detroit now: a team still close enough to chase a playoff spot, and an ace who clearly wants to see this thing through in a Tigers uniform.
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