Tigers predicted to make bad Tarik Skubal trade decision without postseason consequence

The Detroit Tigers have been one of the most talked-about teams in Major League Baseball this offseason, with a lot of the focus falling on Tarik Skubal.

After winning back-to-back Cy Young awards, Skubal won his $32 million arbitration hearing, leading to even more trade rumors and speculation. Those talks have died down lately, but that doesn't mean they're dead just yet.

MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince shared a bold prediction that would result in a baffling Skubal trade situation. While Castrovince predicts Skubal to be traded to the New York Mets mid-season, he still predicts the Tigers will make the postseason.

Tigers predicted to trade Skubal, still make playoffs

"Tarik Skubal will be traded to the Mets ... and the Tigers will reach October, anyway," Castrovince predicts.

That prediction would be a hard-to-believe scenario. While Skubal is one player, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which he's traded mid-season, and yet the Tigers still make the postseason despite losing such a great player.

But, Castrovince makes the argument that, after trading Skubal to the Mets for a package headlined by Jonah Tong, the Tigers would "kick into gear" and turn their season around to sneak into a Wild Card spot.

If Skubal isn't a part of the team, and they still find a way to make the postseason, it would be a major surprise. Skubal is integral to this team, as he's one of, if not the best, pitchers in baseball.

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Even if the trade return for Skubal is worth it, trading him mid-season when they still evidently have a chance to go on a postseason run would be hard to believe.

But, not only is Castrovince predicting the Tigers make the shocking decision to trade Skubal, but he's predicting that Detroit still sneaks into the postseason after such a move.

While the Tigers should seriously entertain trading Skubal if they're in a terrible spot by the trade deadline, if there's even a semblance of a chance to make the postseason, trading Skubal would be a very hated move by Tigers fans.

But this is a bold prediction for a reason, and is meant to be a shocking outcome. While the Tigers could end up trading Skubal or making the postseason, both happening in the same season would be a truly shocking outcome for the Tigers.

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