As the MLB offseason heats up and the Winter Meetings approach, the name on just about every front office’s mind is Tarik Skubal. The Detroit Tigers’ ace is firmly in the spotlight - not just because of his back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards, but because of the lingering question: will Detroit actually trade him?
Right now, the answer appears to be no - or at least, not unless someone makes an offer too good to ignore.
Despite some chatter among league executives suggesting Skubal could be on the move, the Tigers haven’t shown any real signs of entertaining that idea. According to multiple reports, Detroit is holding firm on keeping their ace in the fold, even as contract extension talks have stalled and free agency looms after the 2026 season.
And honestly, it’s hard to blame them.
Skubal isn’t just a top-tier pitcher - he’s the foundation of what Detroit hopes will be a contending team in 2026. His 2025 season was nothing short of dominant: a 2.21 ERA paired with a jaw-dropping 241 strikeouts against just 33 walks. That kind of production doesn’t just anchor a rotation - it elevates an entire franchise.
Even with the uncertainty around his long-term future, the Tigers seem willing to roll the dice. They know what they have in Skubal: a left-hander who can go toe-to-toe with any ace in baseball, a tone-setter every fifth day, and the kind of player you build around - not shop around.
Now, that doesn’t mean a trade is completely off the table. As always, if a team comes calling with a blockbuster offer, Detroit could be forced to listen.
But right now, the odds of Skubal being dealt are low - pegged around 10 percent, according to league insiders. That number could rise if the right team gets desperate, but for now, the Tigers are betting on contention, not a teardown.
The risk, of course, is obvious. If Detroit hangs onto Skubal and can’t reach an extension, they could lose him for nothing in free agency.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for any organization. But the potential upside?
Another Cy Young run, a playoff push, and maybe even a reawakening of Tigers baseball in the Motor City.
For now, Skubal remains the centerpiece - not the trade bait.