Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Every year, we see massive moves being made all across baseball, and this offseason could be no different. The biggest name on the trade block this winter is Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who will be entering the final year of his current contract this season.
Skubal has been subject to trade rumors all year long, but it remains to be seen what will happen with the ace. Detroit hasn’t signaled that it is willing to give him the large contract that he desires, adding more trade speculation to everything.
The Tigers may end up trading Skubal, which many around the game see as a mistake for them. Skubal has been one of the more consistent and better pitchers in the game over the past few seasons, and Detroit finally found success this year.
The left-hander has won back-to-back Cy Young awards in the American League, continuing his dominance on the mound. For the year, Skubal has posted an ERA of 2.21 over 31 starts for the Tigers, while also striking out 241 batters over 195.1 innings of work.
Skubal has posted three straight seasons with an ERA under 3.00, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. If the Tigers do decide to move Skubal, they will have multiple teams vying for his services.
But it remains to be seen how this will all play out, and the left-hander has even said he prefers to stay in Detroit long-term. However, teams like the Tigers tend to make these types of moves, helping to preserve financial flexibility down the line.
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As the Tigers navigate the entire situation around Skubal, the idea of trading him at some point has grown louder. This team can’t afford to lose him for nothing once he hits free agency, so getting back a few prospects for the ace could be the way to go.
One team that has the resources to make a trade for Skubal is the Chicago Cubs. Chicago made the playoffs this past season, and they are now looking to build on that success.
Even with the Cubs not normally being a team that spends a ton, adding someone like Skubal to the mix could completely change the trajectory of this team. Chicago is likely to lose star outfielder Kyle Tucker in free agency this winter, but the team may be willing to put that money toward someone like Skubal in the future.
Adding Skubal to the mix would give the Cubs a bona fide ace for the foreseeable future, something that Chicago hasn’t had in quite some time. Rookie starter Cade Horton showed real promise this past season, but the Cubs will need more to make a serious run at another World Series.
Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, so the price to land him from Detroit won’t come cheap. But this could be an investment for the Cubs to build a sustained winner for years to come, and Skubal could be the central piece in all of it.
There aren’t many players in the sport who are worth a massive trade package, or even a hefty contract, but Skubal is one of the few who is. This could be a real franchise-altering move for the Cubs, if it were to happen, and the front office should be trying to make sure that Skubal calls Wrigley Field home.