Yankees-Tigers trade idea lands Tarik Skubal for top 2 New York prospects

The Tarik Skubal trade saga took a turn last week when USA Today's Bob Nightengale speculated that four teams (New York Yankees, Dodgers, Padres, and Blue Jays) might be the frontrunners for Tarik Skubal if the Detroit Tigers start fielding trade offers on their reigning, defending AL CY Young winner. 

Can you imagine a Yankees rotation with Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole, and Tarik Skubal as front-line starters? And then also having depth with budding starpower in Will Warren and Cam Schlittler. The league would be on notice, and the Yankees would immediately become World Series favorites. 

However, what would a trade package look like for the superstar southpaw? Skubal could be a rental addition if he's traded due to his impending free agency, but that's what makes this scenario so unique. 

Yankees-Tigers Trade Proposal for Tarik Skubal 

Bleacher Report recently wasted no time hopping on the rumor/speculation mill and proposed a handful of trade ideas to land Skubal. 

Here's what they came up with for the New York Yankees:

"Trade Proposal: New York Yankees get LHP Tarik Skubal; Detroit Tigers get SS George Lombard Jr. (Yankees No. 1), RHP RHP Carlos Lagrange (Yankees No. 2)"

MLB writer Zachary D. Rymer then wrote: 

"Cam Schlittler? Yeah, he rules. But Max Fried is on the injured list, and both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón have flashed warning signs since they came off the IL. Rodón has walked 11 batters in 13 innings, while Cole had more walks (three) than strikeouts (two) in his 2026 debut. Both are in their mid-30s. To acquire Skubal would be an act of leaving nothing to chance. The Yankees could line up him and Schlittler for a postseason run, and then trust that the rest would work out."

Again, Skubal is a potential rental addition, so the Yankees could only be acquiring him for a deep playoff run, and given the Yankees' status in MLB, it's pretty much World Series or bust every year. 

As for the Detroit Tigers' role in this, they have officially hit rock bottom in MLB. Detroit is 21-34 and 10 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central. 

Yeah, they're definitely selling, it's just a matter of who? How many players will be dealt? And where will various players land?

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