After back-to-back Cy Young Awards in the American League, Tarik Skubal has officially arrived as one of the premier arms in baseball-if not the top starting pitcher in the game right now. At 29, he's not just dominating hitters-he’s anchoring a Tigers team that’s suddenly looking like a legitimate playoff threat.
And with one year left under club control, Skubal’s name is understandably at the center of trade chatter. But if you’re hoping for a blockbuster move involving Skubal this offseason, don’t hold your breath.
According to reports, both the New York Mets and New York Yankees have already backed out of any pursuit of the Tigers’ ace. The reason?
Detroit’s asking price is sky-high-and for good reason. When you’ve got a lefty who’s posted a 2.70 ERA across 62 starts, with 469 strikeouts in just under 390 innings and a 31-10 record over the last two seasons, you don’t just give that away.
The Tigers know what they have, and they’re not budging unless the return is overwhelming.
That’s exactly what MLB insider Jon Heyman emphasized. After brief talks with the Tigers’ front office, both New York clubs reportedly decided they simply couldn’t meet Detroit’s demands.
And it’s not hard to see why. Skubal has been the definition of dominant, racking up 12.9 bWAR over the past two seasons and playing a massive role in pushing the Tigers into the postseason in both years.
Detroit has won two-thirds of his starts during that stretch-try finding that kind of impact on the open market.
Skubal just avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $10.15 million salary for 2025. But things get more interesting looking ahead to 2026, where he filed for a $32 million salary-while the Tigers countered with $19 million. That arbitration hearing is looming, but it doesn’t change Detroit’s stance: they’re holding onto their ace.
The Tigers made some quiet but meaningful bullpen upgrades this winter, and it’s clear they’re not looking to hit the reset button. Trading Skubal would be a step back.
Right now, he’s the centerpiece of a team that’s trying to win-not rebuild. As Heyman put it, a trade was “not that likely ever.”
And if you’re Detroit, why would it be? You’ve got a homegrown, elite-level starter in his prime, and you’re finally building momentum.
So while the big-market buzz around Skubal made for some fun speculation, it looks like the Tigers are sticking to their plan-and that plan includes their ace leading the charge toward October.