The Tarik Skubal trade chatter picked up another unexpected layer this week, and this time the Philadelphia Phillies got pulled into the mix.
With the deadline closing in, the Los Angeles Dodgers have already been tied to Skubal, and the New York Yankees have been viewed as one of the strongest suitors. The Atlanta Braves could make sense too, given that they currently have only one reliable ace in their rotation. But according to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Phillies are also in the hunt.
“The Phillies are among several teams that scouted Tarik Skubal’s start last weekend. Philly has lost 6 of 7. Scott Harris has traded 3 pitchers to the Phillies since arriving to Detroit: Soto, Lorenzen, Manning,” Morosi wrote on X.
That mention is enough to turn heads. The Phillies were not widely seen as part of the Skubal conversation, even with the deadline approaching and a premium arm like that drawing attention across the league.
Philadelphia’s rotation has been solid overall, but not at the level it has been in past seasons. The club ranks 11th in starting pitchers' ERA, and Aaron Nola’s 3-9 record with a 5.61 ERA has been a major drag.
Still, the bigger issue appears to be the bullpen, where the Phillies sit 22nd in ERA. That is the area most around the league expect them to attack.
Of course, none of this matters if Detroit decides Skubal is staying put. The Tigers are 51-57 and fourth in the AL Central, but they are also in a division where they trail the Chicago White Sox by five games. If they think a run is still on the table, they could hold on to their two-time AL Cy Young winner and let the market settle down - at least for now.
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