The Detroit Tigers have played much better baseball recently to climb back into the American League playoff chase. It will still take some doing for the team to overcome a dreadful start and get into the postseason. Not many people believe that the reigning American League Cy Young winner will be around to see if the Tigers can accomplish that because is is clearly the most coveted commodity for other teams as the MLB trade deadline nears. Even though Skubal has made it clear that he wants to stick around the Motor City for at least a little longer.

We’ll soon have resolution on his immediate future. And whichever franchise gets to send him out to the mound every five days will be thrilled. He’s a fan favorite in Detroit despite all the drama of the last several months and if he got a new home, those fans would go berserk.

Skubal at the trade deadline

ESPN’s baseball insider Jeff Passan added his insight into the biggest trade deadline character and question on Monday’s “Get Up”, along the way revealing which team is most likely to acquire his services.

“If there’s a team that’s gonna go get Tarik SKubal, … it is the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Passan said.

Such a development would not sit well with 29 other fanbases. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball at 61-36 and are seeking their third straight World Series. Throw a dart at their roster and it’s likely to hit an All-Star.

“They can pretty much do what they want at this point,” Passan said before pointing out that the team has been active and not so active during previous trade deadlines during their dynastic run.

Skubal’s future

Look, I’m a Tigers fan and believe Skubal is going to stay in Detroit. But if he does land with the Dodgers, crushing my team’s hopes and only making Los Angeles more of a wagon, then so be it. The Dodgers can do pretty much anything they want at this point and still win a World Series. It’s downright scary to think of how many of those they could string together if they got Skubal’s services for years to come.

The reason there’s no reason to let what the Dodgers do get under your skin is because it’s so competent. It feels like an overwhelming majority of sports fans spend their lives decrying local ownership and all the boneheaded decisions that are made. We suffer because organizations can’t figure it out and never put a premium on winning. So why be made at the one who has perfected it?

Of course that’s easy for me to say now. Check back a few hours after Skubal to the Dodgers becomes a reality and you’ll likely find a broken man.

For much of the 2026 MLB season, it appeared to be only a matter of time before Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was traded. With the left-hander set to become a free agent after the 2026 season and widespread belief that Detroit would struggle to retain him long-term, many around baseball expected the Tigers to capitalize on his value by moving him before the MLB trade deadline. Now, however, the situation has become much more complicated.

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Skubal Wants to Stay in Detroit

According to Bob Nightengale via Foul Territory on X, Skubal has told friends that he badly wants to remain with the Tigers for the rest of the season and has no interest in being traded. Those comments could have a significant impact on Detroit’s approach over the next few weeks.

Earlier this season, when the Tigers were near the bottom of the standings, trading Skubal seemed like the logical move. A back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner would command one of the largest prospect packages seen in years, allowing Detroit to capitalize on the value rather than lose him for nothing more than a compensatory draft pick. The Tigers’ recent surge, however, has changed the conversation.

Detroit Is Back in the Race

Instead of preparing to sell, the Tigers have played themselves back into contention. They now sit within striking distance in both the AL Central and the American League Wild Card race, making it much more difficult for the front office to justify trading its best player.

Keeping Skubal would give Detroit its best chance to make a postseason push, even if there’s still uncertainty about his long-term future.

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Trade Market Could Shift

Skubal’s reported stance may also influence interested teams. While clubs would undoubtedly love to add one of baseball’s premier pitchers for the stretch run, they may think twice about surrendering a massive package for a player who has made it clear he doesn’t want to leave his current organization.

That doesn’t necessarily mean a trade won’t happen, but it could affect how aggressively teams pursue him or how much they’re willing to offer.

A Franchise-Altering Decision

The Tigers now face one of the toughest decisions of the trade deadline. Trading Skubal could still be the smartest long-term baseball move if Detroit believes it cannot sign him to a contract extension. The return could reshape the organization’s future.

On the other hand, with the team back in the playoff hunt and its ace wanting to stay, keeping him may be the better choice for a club trying to prove it can compete.

One thing is certain: Skubal’s latest comments have added another layer to what was already one of the biggest trade deadline storylines in baseball, and Detroit’s decision could have ripple effects across the entire league.

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