Even back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winners aren’t considered untouchable to the Detroit Tigers.
Amid contract talks between the Tigers and star ace Tarik Skubal, president of baseball operations Scott Harris said he’s willing to listen to offers for any players.
“I’ve been pretty clear since I’ve been here,” Harris said, per The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen. “I don’t believe in untouchables at any level. So anyone in our organization, at any level. It’s not a commentary on Tarik specifically. Sort of a blanket team-building approach. I think I can’t do my job without listening. I can’t do my job without exploring anything that may or may not have legs. Some are maybe very likely moves, and some are going to be extremely unlikely. But you can’t actually fully vet those opportunities unless you are willing to listen. So that’s how we’re doing it.”
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported in October that there was a gap of $250 million between what Skubal was seeking and what the Tigers had offered. Heyman later reported that the Tigers offered Skubal $80 million for four years a year ago.
Given the reported sizable gap between Skubal and the Tigers, there has been plenty of speculation about whether Detroit would be willing to move on from Skubal.
Harris’ comments indicate that the Tigers aren’t ruling out a trade.