RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesBaseball's eyes are on the Motor City for the next two days with back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal widely expected to be traded by the Detroit Tigers ahead of Monday's MLB deadline .
The 29-year-old lefty is a free agent this winter and expected to command a record-breaking contract, but whichever team rents him for the next two months would be giving itself the best chance possible to win a World Series in the fall.
One of the AL favorites heading into the season, the Tigers nearly buried themselves with a 6-22 record in May and enter Saturday six games under .500. Though Detroit is (like most teams) in contention for a wild card spot, the Tigers' devastating loss in what may have been Skubal's final start may have sealed his fate.
Two teams to watch in the Skubal sweepstakes are the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers , who happen to have the best records in baseball.
Keep up on the latest rumors and Tigers news:
Skubal's catcher didn't get to say goodbye
The two-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher and his longtime personal catcher met at the alternate site during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, grew up through Rogers' career-high 21-homer season until the emergence of All-Star Dillon Dingler pushed Rogers to the margins and, finally, resulted in his getting designated for assignment July 28.
"I love Skoob to death," Rogers said Friday at Camden Yards. "He made it known that he was going to miss me, and I made it known I was going to miss him. It’s going to happen eventually. To happen the way it did was a little iffy. It’s all a business and they had to do it.
"I feel like I’ve grown up with him. Met him for the first time at the alternate site. We just had such a good relationship since then. Just a really good human and a hardworking human."
– Gabe Lacques
Max Clark gives Tigers glimpse of post-Skubal future
On a night when former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize was scratched from his spot in the Tigers rotation as a precaution for Monday’s looming trade deadline, and a touch of surreal hung over the game – the Athletics are sharing their minor-league ballpark with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate, after all – Max Clark offered a reminder that there may still be a future out there.
– Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press
Skubal trade packages: Brewers
The Brewers’ deep farm system enables them to offer a package perhaps headlined by highly regarded infield prospect Luis Pena and left-hander Robert Gasser, suggests USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner.
Tarik Skubal contract details
The Tigers left-hander is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season.
Skubal is pitching on a one-year, $32 million contract after he was awarded a record arbitration salary in February 2026. He earned $10.15 million during the 2025 season when he won the AL Cy Young Award for the second year in a row.
Tarik Skubal stats
2026: 7–5, 2.79 ERA, 16 GS, 96⅔ IP, 116 SO, 0.91 WHIP
2025: 13–6, 2.21 ERA, 31 GS, 195⅓ IP, 241 SO, 0.89 WHIP, AL Cy Young Award
2024: 18–4, 2.39 ERA, 31 GS, 192 IP, 228 SO, 0.92 WHIP, AL Triple Crown & Cy Young Award
2023: 7–3, 2.80 ERA, 15 GS, 80⅓ IP, 102 SO, 0.90 WHIP
2022: 7–8, 3.52 ERA, 21 GS, 117⅔ IP, 117 SO, 1.16 WHIP
2021: 8–12, 4.34 ERA, 31 G (29 GS), 149⅓ IP, 164 SO, 1.26 WHIP
2020: 1–4, 5.63 ERA, 8 G (7 GS), 32 IP, 37 SO, 1.22 WHIP
When is Tarik Skubal a free agent?
Skubal is eligible for free agency at the conclusion of the 2026 season and will be one the most sought-after player on the market. Turning 30 this offseason, Skubal is likely to break Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million record contract for a pitcher.
Tarik Skubal draft and college
Tarik Skubal played college baseball for the Seattle University Redhawks, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2015 before undergoing Tommy John surgery during his sophomore year in 2016.
Despite missing the 2017 season while recovering, he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 29th round of the 2017 MLB Draft but chose to return to school. He was ultimately selected by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round (255th overall) of the 2018 MLB draft and signed for a $350,000 bonus.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal trade rumors: Latest updates, landing spots for Tigers' Cy Young ace
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