Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris defends MLB trade deadline approach
Detroit Tigers president Scott Harris and manager A.J. Hinch speak during season-ending press conference Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 at Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.
Will the Tigers trade him before then?
President of baseball operations Scott Harris didn’t commit to Skubal when asked about the future — only adding to speculation that the reigning American League Cy Young winner could be traded this offseason.
“I can’t comment on our players being traded,” Harris said Monday, Oct. 13, at an end-of-season news conference at Comerica Park, when asked about Skubal’s status. “I can’t comment on free agents. I can’t comment on other teams’ players. I’m going to respond by just not actually commenting on it.”
The truth is, Harris can comment on all of those things.
He just chose not to.
“I totally understand the question, and I understand that you have to ask me,” Harris said. “I’ve learned over time, especially with this question, that general comments tend to get chopped up and forced into narratives.”
Skubal — represented by agent Scott Boras — posted a 2.21 ERA with 33 walks and 241 strikeouts across 195â…“ innings during the 2025 season. The 28-year-old is expected to become the first back-to-back AL Cy Young winner since Pedro MartÃnez in 1999-2000.
Skubal owns a 2.39 ERA in 77 regular-season starts from 2023-25.
Does Harris believe owner Christopher Ilitch will financially support a Skubal extension?
Harris suggested Ilitch would.
“Chris has been supportive with everything we do,” Harris said. “I know that Chris is going to support us with everything we need, both in terms of player payroll but also not in player payroll … that can help us bring a World Series here. I have no concerns about that.”
Ilitch was asked Oct. 2 if he is prioritizing an extension to keep Skubal with the Tigers beyond 2026: “We’re in 2025 right now,” he said. “We’re just going to focus on the playoffs and really just focus on the game in front of us.”
With Skubal, the Tigers have advanced to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. To get there, the Tigers went 42-20 in the 62 games started by Skubal — and were 131-131 in games not started by Skubal.
That’s a .677 winning percentage in Skubal starts.
And a .500 winning percentage in non-Skubal starts.
“He’s the best pitcher in baseball,” Harris said. “It would be arrogant and tone-deaf for me to claim that we can do all this stuff without him. But on the other hand, it’s also offensive to the other players in the clubhouse to treat us as a one-player team.”
Can the Tigers get back to the postseason without Skubal, whether it’s in 2026 after a trade or 2027 after free agency?
Harris didn’t offer a prediction.
“I don’t really think I can engage in hypotheticals of what would happen in past years if he wasn’t here and what would happen if he’s not here in the future,” Harris said. “He’s here, and we’re glad he’s here.”
After Friday’s season-ending loss, Skubal said he won’t talk to the Tigers during the 2025-26 offseason about his future or the direction of the organization.
He is projected to earn between $15-20 million in his final year of salary arbitration.
“My job is to play,” Skubal said in Seattle after Game 5 of the ALDS, which the Tigers lost, 3-2, in 15 innings. “That’s not my job — to do anything other than play. Those questions should be asked toward the front office and the people that make those decisions, but my job is to go out there and play.”
Until further notice, Skubal is scheduled to report Feb. 11 alongside pitchers and catchers to spring training in Lakeland, Florida, home of the Tigers.
“Tarik is a Tiger,” Harris said. “I hope he wins the Cy Young for the second consecutive year. He’s an incredible pitcher. We’re lucky to have him. That’s all I can say on that.
“The fact is, we’ve had Tarik, and he’s made incredible contributions for the duration of his tenure with the Tigers, but especially the last two years. He’s been a huge part of what we’ve done here, and it’s a blast to watch him pitch.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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