A reunion between the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal might make a lot of sense on paper, but the road back to Detroit looks awfully steep this offseason.
The Tigers are heading into the 2026-2027 MLB offseason with work to do after a disappointing 2026 campaign, and the starting rotation is one of the biggest priorities. Bringing Skubal back would fit neatly into that plan, especially after Detroit moved him at the trade deadline when its poor record left little room to keep him.
In a perfect world, the Tigers would trade him, collect the return, and still find a way to sign him back long term. That’s the dream scenario. The problem is that the market is expected to get too loud, too expensive, and too crowded for Detroit to comfortably play.
As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand put it, "It seems unlikely that the Tigers will get involved in a bidding war, so if Skubal is determined to get every last dollar, it probably won't result in a return to the Motor City," Feinsand writes.
That’s the heart of the issue. A player of Skubal’s caliber is going to draw serious attention, and the list of teams expected to be in the mix includes the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays, among others. Once that kind of competition enters the picture, the price can climb fast.
Even if Detroit were willing to push beyond $325 million, it still may not be enough if Skubal is set on landing the biggest deal available. Feinsand’s read is that the Tigers would need one of two things to happen: either Skubal would have to accept less than the top offer, or the market around him would need to soften. Neither outcome appears likely.
So while the fit is obvious and the idea is appealing, the chances of Skubal actually ending up back in Detroit this offseason don’t look great. The Tigers may end up needing to look elsewhere as they try to reshape their rotation.
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For Detroit, the intrigue is obvious. Kwan has been a problem in October and a steady presence for the Guardians, even if his career numbers against the Tigers are lower than his overall track record suggests. Nothing has been confirmed, and Kwan recently sounded upbeat about Clevelands direction, but his name alone gives Tigers fans a reason to keep one eye on the Guardians offseason. [Read more 🡒]
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Hicks path has been especially notable for Tigers fans to revisit. Detroit acquired him in a trade, then lost him in the Rule 5 draft before he eventually landed with the Rays and worked his way into a meaningful role in their playoff run. Even without a headline-grabbing bat every night, his steady presence has made him one of the more interesting ex-Tigers in this October story, and it leaves a little more room for debate over what might have been. [Read more 🡒]