Ex-MLB GM proposes wild Yankees trade package for Tarik Skubal headlined by Spencer Jones

The New York Yankees would be one of many teams vying for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal if he became available for trade.

Any package for Skubal would be massive, but the Yankees have the prospects and the pitching depth within the organization to make such a deal work.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic, a former MLB general manager, proposed one trade package for Skubal and the Yankees, which features Spencer Jones, along with multiple pitchers, in a wild trade idea.

Ex-MLB GM proposes wild Tigers-Yankees Tarik Skubal trade idea

"Potential trade return: OF Spencer Jones, RHP Will Warren, RHP Carlos Lagrange, and RHP Bryce Cunningham." Bowden writes.

Jones is the headliner, as he's one of the top prospects in baseball, and could be a polarizing slugger in the Major Leagues. He had 35 home runs in 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A.

Will Warren is the only player the Tigers would be getting in return with Major League experience in Bowden's trade idea. He has pitched in two seasons for the Yankees, putting up a 4.44 ERA in 33 starts for New York in 2025.

He's under club control through the 2030 season, giving the Tigers, in this hypothetical trade, a starting pitcher for the foreseeable future.

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Carlos Lagrange and Bryce Cunningham are also top prospects for the Yankees and would help the Tigers make up for the loss in the rotation. While neither is a sure thing, the Tigers would be getting some extra pitching depth at worst with these two top prospects.

All three prospects are ranked inside the Yankees' top five prospects. Lagrange is ranked 2nd, Jones is ranked 4th, and Cunningham is ranked 5th. Add on Warren, who's a young, controllable, cheap starter, and this package is a huge one for the Yankees to give up.

While this is a strong offer for only one year of Skubal, it might not be enough. It's a fascinating trade idea, and gives an idea for what a former GM believes it could take for Detroit to part with Skubal.

While it's an interesting trade idea, the Tigers aren't likely to trade their ace coming off his second-straight Cy Young Award. Even this massive package likely isn't enough for Detroit to move on from Skubal, especially since the Tigers ace wants to stay in Detroit.

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