Tarik Skubal trade prediction has Tigers frustrating most of MLB

Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The Detroit Tigers are probably the most talked-about team for the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and not because they could be major buyers at the deadline.

Instead, it's all about the potential trade of Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back Cy Young winner who has a real chance of being traded. But Skubal isn't a lock to be dealt, as his future is very much up in the air.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale predicted that the Tigers, with the expected major interest in Skubal, will make a trade decision that'd surely frustrate all of the contenders around MLB, as Skubal would be staying in Detroit instead of being traded.

Tigers predicted to keep Tarik Skubal through trade deadline

"Skubal, the defending two-time AL Cy Young winner, realizes his fate depends on how the Tigers fare these next weeks," Nightengale writes. "If they keep winning - and they're 24-15 since June 1 - he's staying. Prediction: Staying."

Trading Skubal this summer would make a lot of sense for the Tigers. Instead of losing him for nothing in free agency after the 2026 season comes to a close, trading him now would bring back a much better return.

However, if the Tigers feel they have a real chance to make a postseason run, they're probably going to hold onto Skubal through the deadline.

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Such a future could come to pass if the Tigers go on a winning streak as the deadline nears. They've already played well since the All-Star break, going 3-1 in that time span so far, but they're going to need to play even better to justify keeping Skubal.

This prediction from Nightengale would have the Tigers keeping Skubal through the deadline, not trading him away for a king's ransom to some top contender like the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Skubal is predicted to stay in Detroit through the deadline by Nightengale, as he's predicting the Tigers to continue their recent winning ways, get back into the postseason hunt, and not sell in pursuit of a playoff run this season.

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