What happened to the "Old Tarik Skubal"? After witnessing his third consecutive performance that didn't quite meet his usual lofty standards, especially following a remarkable recovery from elbow surgery, you might wonder if something's amiss.
But if you caught the game rather than just glancing at the box score, the answer seems to be ... not much. The Yankees deserve their due credit for Wednesday's outcome, cleverly exploiting sequencing patterns and staying a step ahead of Skubal at times, including deploying their secret weapon.
If you thought this Detroit finale might dent his trade value, give the Yankees an advantage, or raise doubts about his future, it really shouldn't have done any of those things.
Skubal fell victim to the long ball three times against the Yankees. Two of those homers came courtesy of Paul Goldschmidt, marking the first time anyone had homered twice in a game off Skubal since ...
Goldschmidt back in 2021. If getting rocked by Goldy disqualifies a pitcher, then the entire league might as well hang up their gloves; he's having a comeback season for the ages.
The other homer was a masterclass in hitting by Jasson Domínguez, who was initially fooled by Skubal's changeup in his first two at-bats. However, Domínguez worked a nine-pitch battle until he finally capitalized on a misplaced changeup in the zone.
In the stretches between those homers - and yes, we can't ignore them - Skubal was in command, firing 99-100 mph heat and handling the Yankees lineup with ease. Beneath the surface, his whiff rate was fit for royalty, not indicative of any rust.
Here's the final line for Tarik Skubal:
6 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
He showcased some electrifying stuff, generating a 40 percent whiff rate, including 12 swings and misses with his changeup. But he also surrendered three costly home runs.
Season ERA: 3.32
Now, are the Yankees still considering a trade for Tarik Skubal after Wednesday's win?
Any team contemplating a deal for Skubal will still need to part with a substantial package. The risk of him faltering exists, as it does for any pitcher.
Pitchers break - it's an unfortunate reality. But the Yankees didn't exactly dismantle Frankie Montas and his cedar plank shoulder on Wednesday.
They simply took some solid swings against a pitcher whose velocity climbed and command sharpened as the game progressed.
The Yankees are likely as interested in Skubal as any other team, though the trade landscape remains unchanged. The Dodgers are perceived as the frontrunners until proven otherwise.
They act with unmatched aggression and urgency, despite their standing as baseball's elite. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers, with their formidable rotation and ability to continuously reload their farm system, understand the stakes.
They won't have access to free agent talent like Skubal anytime soon. Championships are forever, and they have none.
If they want to outbid the Yankees, they have the means.
So yes, the Yankees will be interested. No, they didn't do themselves any favors on that front Wednesday.
Skubal's value didn't plummet as he watched Domínguez's drive sail out to left. But ... still ... that was quite a moment, wasn't it?
In Other News...
Jazz Chisholm Added Another Ugly Twist To Yankees Red Sox Spiral
The Yankees offensive frustrations against Boston reached another awkward checkpoint when Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself in the middle of a disputed check-swing call at the plate. Batting leadoff in a revamped lineup, Chisholm was trying to spark a club that had struggled to create much of anything in the series while the Red Sox kept the pressure on from the mound.
The moment quickly grew tense, with Chisholm arguing the ruling from home plate umpire Adam Hamari before things boiled over and the play drew in the rest of the umpiring crew. It was the kind of scene that fit the night for New York, a team already trying to avoid a no-hit bid and now left to deal with another jolt of frustration in a game that was slipping further out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Boone Had Yankees Fans Bracing For More After Boston Mess
The Yankees left Boston with more than just a four-game sweep hanging over them. A trip that already had the look of a test became a reminder of how quickly a season can turn when the injuries stack up, the defense wobbles and the lineup keeps running into the same problems with runners in scoring position. Bostons sweep was its first over New York since 2018, and for a club trying to stay afloat in the AL East, it landed like a fresh wound.
Aaron Boones postgame tone only added to the noise around the club. After a loss that exposed so many of the Yankees current issues, fans were already bracing for what might come next from a manager whose message has come under sharper scrutiny during the slide. With the offense sputtering and the roster still missing key pieces, the bigger question now is whether the Yankees can steady themselves before the frustration around them gets even louder. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Deadline Pressure Is Building Around Brian Cashman Again
The Yankees have put themselves in the familiar spot of being good enough to buy and pressured enough to keep shopping. At 48-35 and sitting in second place in the American League East, they are in position to play deep into October, but the roster still has some obvious holes that could shape how Brian Cashman approaches the deadline. Bullpen help remains on the checklist, catcher is a lingering question, and shortstop is at least part of the conversation as the front office weighs how much to trust the current mix.
Cashman is expected to be busy, as he usually is this time of year, and the real suspense is less about whether the Yankees will add than how aggressively they will do it. The market will be shaped by health and depth, with the returns of several key players likely to affect how urgent the front office feels and how far it is willing to go. For a club trying to protect a playoff spot while also building a roster that can hold up in October, those decisions are already coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]