*This is a prediction*
As the MLB Winter Meetings progressed, more speculation ended up arising from it surrounding the key storyline this offseason, which surrounds the future of Tarik Skubal.
As trade discussions continue, it seems almost as if the Detroit Tigers are truly bound to trade their ace in Tarik Skubal, despite him being a large reason for their success in recent seasons, including a 2025 season where Detroit finished with an 87-75 record.
Regardless, Tarik Skubal would end up getting Detroit a haul in return for him, and if they aren’t going to be able to re-sign him with his contract up after this season, a trade would actually be more beneficial than letting him walk for nothing.
If the trade possibility fully opens up, there has been increased talks that the Los Angeles Dodgers could trade for him, but there is another team that could swoop in instead, and that is the Dodgers’ rivals in the San Diego Padres.
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Detroit Tigers Trade Tarik Skubal to the San Diego Padres
As far as it goes with the San Diego Padres, the biggest thing coming from the MLB Winter Meetings surrounding them is that they are looking to make a major move this offseason, one that rivals when they traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees.
The Padres are reportedly “shooting big” at a blockbuster trade 👀@Feinsand explains what that could look like for San Diego.
MLB Network + @CohnReznick pic.twitter.com/fBfAO48Jf9
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 9, 2025
For San Diego, they need pitching help with Dylan Cease leaving in free agency for the Toronto Blue Jays, and Michael King unlikely to re-sign. If the Padres are looking to make a big splash, none would be bigger than acquiring the best pitcher in MLB. For San Diego they would have to give up numerous prospects, as well as someone like Xander Boegarts, but to acquire Skull’s talents, it would be worth it.
Tarik Skubal would provide the major boost San Diego needs to make up for the lost pitching talent and then some. Skubal is coming off a 2025 season in which he had a 2.21 ERA, 0.891 WHIP, and 241 strikeouts.
With his talent and having many years left to play, he is the game-changing talent that would propel the Padres to new heights if they can be successful trading for him.