Left-hander Tarik Skubal, who has won consecutive American League Cy Young trophies, enters the final year of his deal with the Detroit Tigers.

If he does hit free agency next offseason, Skubal, 29, could earn the largest deal for a pitcher in MLB history. The current record belongs to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who netted a $325 million contract before throwing a pitch in the majors.

Naturally, this has created a situation where Skubal is now involved in trade rumors. If the Tigers can’t get him to agree to an extension before the end of the 2026 season, they run the risk of losing their franchise player.

It’s unclear if Skubal will be traded, but here’s a look at some potential destinations if the Tigers decide to get something for their ace.

Tarik Skubal Next Team Odds & Favorites

The BetMGM online sportsbook doesn’t offer a market on Skubal’s next team, but there are only a select number of teams that even make sense as possible destinations.

For a team to trade for Skubal, it must have the assets to win a bidding war, as well as a front office willing to hand out a massive contract extension to lock down the ace. As a result, these are the teams I’d project as the favorites to land Skubal:

Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Tigers

It should come as no surprise that these teams are the favorites to trade for Skubal. After all, they’d likely be the favorites to sign him next winter as a free agent.

The Dodgers, who have won back-to-back World Series crowns, have the highest payroll in the sport and are willing to make blockbuster trades for franchise players. They had MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 farm system as of last summer, so I’m sure they’d be willing to part with some assets to bring in Skubal.

In addition, both New York teams consistently have a top-five payroll and attract the biggest stars in the league.

The Mets, who gave out the largest contract in free agency to Juan Soto last offseason, have shown a willingness to spend. The Yankees might get more aggressive in hopes of winning their first World Series since 2009.

Of course, the Tigers could always keep Skubal by getting him to agree to an extension before next offseason. Detroit’s payroll ranks 17th in the majors, but it could be worth spending whatever it takes to lock down Skubal. He helps the Tigers win (they have two straight playoff berths) while also selling tickets and jerseys.

Tarik Skubal Next Team Prediction

I doubt that Skubal will be traded before the 2026 MLB season. However, I could see these conversations resurfacing if the Tigers struggle or are unable to sign him to an extension before the deadline.

If Skubal is moved in 2026, the Dodgers or the Mets are the most likely destinations. As the teams with the two highest payrolls in the sport, they’d be most willing to give Skubal a record-setting deal to be their ace for the foreseeable future.

Interestingly enough, the Mets make more sense as Skubal’s next team than the Dodgers. New York has a desperate need for starting pitching after ranking 18th in MLB with a 4.13 ERA last year.

The Mets’ rotation doesn’t project much better in 2026. Right-hander Nolan McLean, the National League Rookie of the Year odds favorite, might be the team’s best starter in his first full season. I’m sure the Mets wouldn’t mind taking some of the pressure off McLean to be their top guy.

New York ranked seventh in MLB Pipeline’s Farm System rankings last summer, so it could put together an enticing deal for Detroit. McLean (No. 11), outfielder Carson Benge (No. 21), shortstop Jett Williams (No. 30), and right-hander Jonah Tong (No. 46) all rank inside MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects.

It’s unclear what it would take to win the Skubal sweepstakes, considering the team trading for him will have to give him a huge deal. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets are more motivated than anyone else, considering they missed the playoffs last year and haven’t won the World Series since 1986. Oh, and they have so much money.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, already have a lethal rotation. Yamamoto won last year’s World Series MVP award. Blake Snell is a two-time Cy Young winner, while Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani would be the aces on most rotations. The Dodgers still believe in the potential of Roki Sasaki.

If Skubal is available, you trade for him and figure out how to sort the rotation after that. He’d be the best pitcher on any staff in the league. But are the Dodgers willing to win a bidding war when they have so much starting depth? I have my doubts.

Tarik Skubal’s next team prediction: New York Mets

Tarik Skubal Contract

Tarik Skubal’s contract with the Tigers ends after the 2026 season, making him a free agent and a top target next offseason.

2026 payroll salary: $22,500,000