The Tarik Skubal trade chatter has taken another turn, and this one points to Philadelphia.
With the MLB trade deadline only days away, the Los Angeles Dodgers have already been tied to Skubal, and the New York Yankees have been viewed as a major contender as well. The Atlanta Braves could make sense too, given that they have only one reliable ace in their rotation. But MLB insider Jon Morosi added a new wrinkle by reporting that the Phillies are in the mix.
“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 link comes as a surprise to plenty of people around the game. The Phillies had not really been part of the Skubal conversation before this, even though they do have rotation questions of their own.
Philadelphia ranks 11th in starting pitchers’ ERA, and while the group has not been as overpowering as it has been in past seasons, the club still has four solid starters. Aaron Nola’s numbers have been the biggest drag, as he is 3-9 with a 5.61 ERA.
The bigger concern, though, is the bullpen. The Phillies are 22nd in bullpen ERA, and that is the area many around the league expect them to target.
Of course, all of this depends on whether Detroit even decides to move Skubal. The Tigers are 51-57 and sitting fourth in the AL Central, but they are still in a division where they trail the Chicago White Sox by five games. If the Tigers think they can make a push this season, they could choose to hold onto their two-time AL Cy Young winner and shut down the rumors, at least for now.
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