The Tarik Skubal trade rumors picked up steam earlier this offseason, but as we sit deeper into January, it’s looking more and more like Detroit’s ace isn’t going anywhere-at least not yet.
Here’s the situation: Skubal and the Tigers are heading toward arbitration with a sizable $13 million gap between their respective filings. Detroit came in at $19 million, while Skubal’s camp is asking for $32 million. That’s not a small difference, and it’s the kind of number that gets people talking-especially in an offseason where the Tigers haven’t exactly been splashing cash.
Naturally, once those arbitration figures hit the wire, the trade chatter reignited. Could this be the tipping point that pushes Detroit to move its most valuable arm? According to multiple MLB executives, probably not.
One American League executive put it bluntly: “I don’t think it changes much.” The thinking here is that even if the Tigers lose the arbitration case and end up paying Skubal the higher number, it’s not likely to force their hand into a trade. It might tighten the financial belt a bit, sure, but not enough to justify parting with a frontline starter unless the return is too good to ignore.
And that’s the key-value. Skubal isn’t just another arm in the rotation.
He’s a left-handed ace with electric stuff and team control, the kind of pitcher you build around, not shop around lightly. So while the arbitration standoff adds a layer of tension, it doesn’t necessarily shift the Tigers’ long-term outlook.
An executive from the National League echoed that sentiment, noting that the uncertainty surrounding Skubal’s future-both in terms of contract and team direction-actually makes a trade less likely. That’s not to say Detroit wouldn’t listen if someone came calling with a blockbuster offer, but right now, the front office doesn’t appear eager to move him.
This isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about timing, leverage, and long-term planning. The Tigers know what they have in Skubal, and unless a team comes in with a haul that makes Detroit rethink its trajectory, it’s hard to see them pulling the trigger on a deal this offseason.
So yes, the arbitration gap is big. Yes, it’s unusual enough to spark speculation.
But for now, that’s all it is-speculation. The Tigers may not love where things stand with Skubal’s contract, but they’re not about to trade away their ace just because of a courtroom number.
Bottom line: unless something major changes, Tarik Skubal is still expected to be wearing the Old English "D" when spring training rolls around.