Tigers' Tarik Skubal named as most likely player to be traded by former MLB GM

The Detroit Tigers, after coming up just short in the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners, have a lot of decisions to make this winter. While they'll evaluate the free agency market, the Tigers could also make some big changes in-house.

A.J. Hinch and most of the core will be back in 2026, but with Tarik Skubal's upcoming free agency after 2026, there are some trade rumors surrounding the likely 2025 AL Cy Young.

And as former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicts, the Tigers could end up shopping the left-handed ace this winter amid fears of Skubal departing for nothing after 2026.

Former MLB GM names Tarik Skubal as a player most likely to be traded

Skubal is a free agent after 2026 and will likely seek out a deal around $400 million. It's been reported that the two sides are hundreds of millions of dollars apart in negotiations. If the Tigers can't get close to an extension, trading him might be on the table.

"Therefore, even though the Tigers are in position to compete for the postseason next year," Bowden writes, "It's likely they shop Skubal at the Winter Meetings and try to make the best trade they can with so many big market teams with deep farm systems obviously wanting him..."

As Bowden mentions, with the likelihood of a Skubal extension looking slim, Detroit could turn to the Winter Meetings to gauge interest and shop its ace.

Plenty of teams, like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, among many others, will be interested in trading for Skubal.

Even if it's only a rental, a team like the Mets, which had rotation issues in 2025, landing Skubal for one year to try and contend would be a franchise-altering move.

If the Tigers do move Skubal, they'd be getting a very strong return for him. It'd likely include multiple valuable assets, likely players who are younger and cheaper, with more years of control.

The only thing holding the Tigers back from landing such a monstrous return for Skubal is that it's potentially a one-year rental. If Skubal were around for a few more years, then the Tigers could land a massive haul for him.

More: How Tigers' GM Scott Harris might've revealed his concerning Tarik Skubal plan

But, with this piece from Bowden, not only does it seem like the Tigers are open to moving Skubal, but they're expected to shop him at the Winter Meetings.

With a huge chasm between Skubal and the Tigers in contract negotiations, trading him for a strong return might not be the worst thing for the Tigers. The Los Angeles Angels didn't get anything in return for letting Shohei Ohtani walk. While a trade would've been controversial, it would've been a better move for the Angels' long-term outlook.

Now, a couple of years later, the Tigers face a similar dilemma. Trading Skubal would be a tough blow for the franchise in the short term, especially after an ALDS run. But it could set the Tigers up for success down the road.

There's no more interesting storyline in MLB this winter, as a Skubal trade would be a stunning move, regardless of which franchise it's to or what return the Tigers land. 2025 might've been Skubal's last year in Detroit, as the Tigers are considering moving their Cy Young ace.

Bowden named Skubal as the first player in his "stars most likely to be traded this offseason" list, and with the circumstances of Skubal's extension talks, it's not far-fetched that the Tigers move on from Skubal this offseason.

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