Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has been the hottest topic on the trade block this winter and the rumors surrounding the two-time Cy Young winner have taken a surprising turn amid the arbitration dispute.
MLB Jon Heyman provided the latest update on Skubal and his chances of being traded.
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“Not great. I mean that’s the way we entered the offseason,” Heyman said on MLB Network. “We felt [Freddy] Peralta was probably gonna get moved, we felt [Mackenzie] Gore was almost definitely gonna get moved. But Skubal is in another category, he’s the best pitcher in baseball. I mean the price is understandably high. There’s a lot of reasons for Detroit to keep him. They want to be a contender.
“This isn’t a rebuilding team. It’s going to take a lot. The Mets have tried, the Yankees have tried. I’m sure all the big market teams have tried. I would say that the odds remain slim that Skubal is going anywhere. It is interesting that they haven’t take him off the market yet or at least announced that he’s staying. So, maybe they’re still talking but still a longshot.”
Skubal is predicted to win his arbitration case against the Tigers, as the ace put in a bid for $32 million and the Tigers are in at $19 million. If that is indeed the case, the Tigers would likely be more inclined to get Skubal’s $32 million off their payroll.
However, baseball fans will have to wait and see how the arbitration case plays out.
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What Have the Tigers Said About a Tarik Skubal Trade?
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris fueled the fire at the Winter Meetings in December, when he told reporters there were no untouchables on the roster. Harris failed to explicitly say Skubal wasn’t on the trade block.
“It’s just really hard to answer the question,” Harris said, “and I’ll tell you why: One, we don’t speculate on any players on our roster in trade talks. It’s just not productive, and it’s unfair to players on other teams.
“Two, I’ve been pretty clear since I’ve been here: I don’t believe in untouchables at any level, anyone in our organization. It’s not a commentary on Tarik specifically, [but] sort of a blanket team-building approach. 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 going to be 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. …
“I don’t know if that’s helpful for you guys, but I figured I’d give you at least some logic behind why we’re taking this approach.”
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