Tigers predicted to be top landing spot for $160 million three-time All-Star, would provide one last hurrah for Tarik Skubal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Tigers are facing a huge decision this offseason: either offloading Tarik Skubal or letting him ride out his contract in Detroit for the 2026 season. With the latter seeming more likely, it might be time to make a move for one last run at a World Series win.
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The Athletic’s Jim Bowden believes the Tigers should go out and get a hitter and sees Detroit as a top landing spot for three-time All-Star Kyle Schwarber, who he projects to get a six-year, $160 million deal this offseason.
“In addition to being one of the premier power hitters in the game, Schwarber is highly valued around the league for his clubhouse presence. Although he’s basically limited to the DH position, Schwarber offers consistency — he hit 56 home runs this year and has hit 40 homers or more in three of the last four years — and also durability, having played in 150 or more games each of the last four years, including 162 this year,” Bowden wrote.
This past season, Schwarber slashed .240/.365/.563/.928 with 56 home runs and 132 RBI in 162 games. Skubal had barely any run support in his time with the Tigers, so getting the best RBI hitter in baseball this season seems like a great solution.
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And, if Skubal walks, which is likely, and the Tigers want to start a rebuild, they could trade Schwarber next offseason. If they don’t want to trade him, they could build around him and create a new contender that way.
Hopefully, the Tigers realize that this is their last chance to win a title for a while. With that in mind, they need to hop in the Schwarber sweepstakes ASAP, lest they lose him to another contender that wants his superstar power.
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