The Detroit Tigers may have hoped the Tarik Skubal story would circle back to them this offseason, but a new projection says that reunion is heading the other way.
In a recent Bleacher Report piece, Zach Buckley forecast that the Tigers will lose out on Skubal and that the left-hander will stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.
"While free agents do consider factors behind their pay day, the dollar amounts typically need to be pretty close to garner serious consideration. And with a bidding war seemingly brewing between the deep-pocketed Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, the Tigers could get priced out of this sweepstakes," Buckley wrote. "Prediction: Skubal re-signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers."
That would be a tough outcome for Detroit after the club traded Skubal to Los Angeles this season. The move made sense at the time, given that Skubal was on an expiring contract and the AL Central club was out of the playoff race near the deadline. But since then, the possibility of a Tigers-Skubal reunion has become one of the more talked-about angles heading into free agency.
The problem for Detroit is the money. The Tigers do not have the same financial muscle as the game’s biggest spenders, and that could make it difficult to win a bidding war if one develops.
If Skubal ends up elsewhere, the Tigers will have to pivot quickly. Their rotation already needs help, especially after dealing both Skubal and Casey Mize this season. Among the free-agent arms Detroit could consider are Freddy Peralta, Michael King, Tyler Mahle and Clay Holmes.
For now, the Tigers are left waiting to see how the market unfolds. They would certainly love to be the team that brings Skubal back.
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