Phillies trade idea lands Tarik Skubal using untouchable prospect in 'must-win-now' move

The Philadelphia Phillies are heading into the 2026 MLB season with a lot of hope for a World Series. But that hope might not come to fruition with the roster a bit weaker than it was last year.

While the bullpen might be better, the lineup still has some big question marks, and the starting rotation is worse. Ranger Suarez left in free agency, and Zack Wheeler is beginning the year on the sidelines.

To resolve any worries about the rotation, Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer proposed a trade idea that would bring Tarik Skubal to Philadelphia, as the Phillies are in a "must-win-now" mode entering 2026.

Phillies trade idea lands Tarik Skubal in 'must-win-now' move

"With their core stars all getting old fast, they're not so much 'win now' as 'must win now,'" Rymer writes. "They also have the prospect depth to the Tigers to listen, especially if they were to float Andrew Painter as a headliner."

Andrew Painter is a pitcher that the Phillies have no plans of moving on from anytime soon. They didn't include him in trades the last year or so, despite being a valuable trade commodity for the Phillies.

He's slated to earn a spot in the rotation this year, as the Phillies are missing Suarez and Wheeler to open the season. With such a shaky rotation after Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Aaron Nola, another starter is needed for the Phillies.

With a clear need in the rotation, the Phillies could decide to trade for Skubal in a blockbuster trade this Spring or to begin the regular season. It would be an all-in move for 2026, which Dave Dombrowski and company might not want to do.

"Once again, we're treating a Skubal trade as something the Tigers should do only if another team is desperate enough to knock their socks off," Rymer writes. "And to this end, the Phillies are the only team that really makes sense."

More: Phillies' Jhoan Duran teases new pitch, but won't reveal what it is

The Phillies getting desperate and splurging on Skubal isn't very likely. But, with their window closing, it's not totally out of the question that the Phillies try to pull off an aggressive move.

A trade for Skubal would be the ultimate all-in move. He's coming off a second straight Cy Young Award. He had a 2.21 ERA last year and a 2.39 ERA the year prior across 31 starts apiece. He's likely the best pitcher in Major League Baseball right now.

While moving Painter, and a lot more, to acquire Skubal would hurt the team in the future, a rotation of Sanchez, Skubal, Wheeler, Luzardo, and Nola would be the best in the Major Leagues.

This trade has almost zero chance of happening, especially after the Tigers signed Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander. Rymer's trade idea is only that, an idea. But, it does highlight the issue in the rotation the Phillies have, and how desperate this team might get soon.

More MLB news:

• MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
• Yankees' Jazz Chisholm reveals his 9-figure contract asking price
• Twins get devastating injury news on Pablo Lopez
• Cubs' Alex Bregman makes assertive no-trade clause Red Sox statement
• German Marquez takes shot at Rockies after signing with team that 'wants to win'
• Mets fans should be concerned with Bo Bichette after fielding struggles go viral
• Giants get great news on top prospect Carson Whisenhunt with huge velocity increase