Although he only recently underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is already throwing up-down bullpens with intent, and could be back on the mound in a stunningly short period of time. Guessing lots of guys are gonna start having that new nanoscope version of the elbow procedure in the years ahead, eh?
Whenever Skubal returns, though, he could come back to a Tigers club that has slumped its way out of the AL playoff picture. There’s still time to recover, but if things keep looking this bleak, then the trade chatter will definitely pick up:
Tarik Skubal trade chances are rising.1. Tigers have lost 14 of 16 and are in last and 5 games out in WC race. 2. Tigers have 5 starters on IL. 3. Skubal is progressing since elbow scope. 4. Tigers chances to extend him are nil.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 21, 2026If the Tigers decide they are out of the race, then there will be absolutely not reason for them not to capitalize and trade Tarik Skubal for the biggest price they can get. He isn’t re-signing in Detroit, realistically speaking, so you’re talking about the Tigers getting only a draft pick after the first round upon his departure in free agency. They could get MUCH MORE than that at the Trade Deadline if he’s healthy.
Fair to start wondering, then: if the Tigers do make Tarik Skubal available in trade, would you want to see the Cubs pay up multiple top prospects to bring him in for the stretch run and, hopefully, a playoff run?
Note that the question is not whether you’d want Skubal on the Cubs. That’d be a hilarious question. He’s one of the two or three best pitchers on the planet, and would be on the short list of players you’d choose to add to the Cubs if you could pick ANY player.
Instead, the question is whether you’d want to see the Cubs pay the steep price to make a short-term move to add Tarik Skubal.
It’s not a question I’m prepared to answer definitively today, because I do think it’ll depend a great deal on the Cubs’ relative playoff positioning come late July, the projected state of the roster down the stretch, and obviously how Skubal is looking after he returns.
But I will say broadly that I’m not opposed to this particular Cubs team paying through the nose to get a true ace for the stretch run. It’s the one big obvious need, and, when things are going right, this is a team that justifies a short-term go-for-it trade. Moreover, so much of the Cubs’ farm system is concentrated among positional talents that may not ultimately find a home on the big league team, and thus would best be used in a trade anyway.
All that said, you know the risks. The Cubs could give up three of their best prospects (or whatever) only to see Skubal get hurt again or uncharacteristically struggle. Or, the Cubs could get great production out of Skubal, but fail in other ways either before or during the postseason. It’s not like the question is “do you trade top prospects to guarantee a World Series run?” That’d be a much easier question to answer!
As for the longer-term implications of acquiring Tarik Skubal ahead of free agency, two things are true: (1) there is ZERO chance he signs an extension before free agency, and (2) that doesn’t mean having him ahead of free agency is worthless if you intend on pursuing him. Those two or three months to show him what it’s like in your organization? In your city? In your ballpark, with your fans? That has value in a free agent pursuit.
… but that only matters if you’re willing to spend at the top of the market to make a truly competitive offer. I have my doubts that the Cubs are going to be willing to offer $400 or $500 million to ANY free agent, much less a pitcher heading into his age-30 season.
So, then, when it comes to the longer-term implications on this topic, I almost completely ignore them. The trade would be about trying to max out your 2026 club. Period.
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