Ex-Yankees star Cameron Maybin reveals “playoff nightmare” blueprint for Bronx, urges team to pursue potential $400M ace

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has been one of the top players getting trade buzz this offseason. He’s set to be a free agent after 2026, and so far, negotiations for an extension with the Tigers have stalled. The negotiation price is $250 million off, as per reports from insider Jon Heyman.

Amid the Skubal hot stove chatter, former NY Yankees outfielder Cameron Maybin posted on X Thursday. He laid out what he sees as the perfect playoff lineup that’d enhance the team’s championship chances.

If the Bronx Bombers could lock in Tarik Skubal, they could have a “nightmare” lineup of pitchers, including Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and Sandy Alcantara. Maybin believes adding Skubal would boost the team more than Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger.

“Tucker and Bellinger will shake up somebody’s offseason, but the move that would take over the entire league is the Yankees going to get Skubal," Maybin wrote. … "But imagine pairing him with a healthy Sandy Alcantara in the Bronx along with Fried, Cole, Rodon.” “That is a playoff nightmare for every lineup in baseball. And I don’t want to hear anything about payroll. This is the Yankees. If you want to win you find a way to make it happen!”

Maybin further stated that the Tigers are not paying Skubal what he deserves, and “they’re trying to justify or convince themselves” likewise. This could be the reason why the ace pitcher might be forced to switch teams before hitting free agency in 2026.

Maybin started his MLB career in Detroit in 2007 before being traded to the Marlins in exchange for slugger Miguel Cabrera. He had two more stints with the Tigers in 2016 and 2020.

Last year, one of the key moves by the Yankees was signing lefty Max Fried to an 8-year $218 million deal.

MLB insider Kiley McDaniel revealed that Tarik Skubal might surpass Yoshinobu Yamamoto $325 million deal with a $400 million asking price if he enters free agency next year. He could become MLB’s first pitcher to sign a massive contract after the Dodgers' ace.

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Tarik Skubal makes feelings known on swirling trade rumors

Tarik Skubal [Credit: Imagn]

Tarik Skubal, in an interview on Foul Territory Thursday, addressed the trade rumors and made his stance clear on the Tigers' future. He questioned why he’s even in this conversation and reiterated he doesn’t want to be traded, unless asked to.

“The way social media is, it's hard not to see things about yourself, especially when it's talking about trades and kind of all those hypotheticals. But you know, at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. It’s not going to impact who I am day-to-day basis.” “It’s all out of my control…It’s not like I want to be traded, so it’s kind of like, why am I in these conversations to begin with?... I try just to stay out of it and not look at it.”

Skubal won his 2nd consecutive AL Cy Young Award this offseason after recording 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 31 starts. He’s had an impactful year with the Tigers, but whether they’ll find a common ground is yet to be seen.

Edited by Brad Taningco