The swirling speculation over Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal‘s future shows no signs of dying down.
Recently, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers went around the league and asked 13 MLB executives whether the Tigers should let Skubal‘s contract situation run, trade him now, or try to lock him up early.
The leaguewide poll revealed a majority of executives who believe Detroit will “let it ride” instead of trading or extending the twotime AL Cy Young winner – but that doesn’t rule out a dramatic offseason at Comerica Park.
Ten responded that Detroit would let things play out, three said the club might trade him, and none predicted an extension.
There’s also the backdrop of half the league waiting for a chance at Skubal if Detroit ever opens the door. The Yankees, the Mets, and plenty of win-now clubs wouldn’t hesitate.
Skubal‘s case for staying, and why Detroit might hesitate
On the mound, Skubal has cemented himself among baseball’s elite. In 2025, he posted a 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA, struck out 241 batters over 195 1/3 innings, and recorded a dazzling 0.89 WHIP.
That performance helped him claim his second straight AL Cy Young Award – making him arguably the most dominant pitcher in the American League over the past two seasons.
But off the field, things are murkier. Skubal declined a fouryear, sub$100 million extension offered after the 2024 season, a deal many considered “noncompetitive.”
More recently, sources suggest the gap between the Tigers‘ offer and Skubal‘s expectations has ballooned to nearly $250 million.
Skubal shrugs at the noise
Despite all the chatter, Skubal himself doesn’t seem bothered. During an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast last week, he told former catcher Erik Kratz that talk about contracts and possible trades are made “out of nothing.”
Skubal has asserted his loyalty to the Tigers, saying, “I’ve given everything I have to this organization,” Skubal told reporters. “I want to be a Tiger for a very long time…I love Detroit. Hopefully, I’m here, you know?”
Detroit appears to be on the same page, and are not expected to trade him. One of the executives Rogers interviewed put it pretty bluntly.
“I doubt they can afford to extend him, but they also know they can’t win the division without him. I think they roll with him in ’26 unless they get blown away with a trade concept,” they said.
Skubal on Detroit keeps them competitive, and trading him would force Detroit to find someone else to replace him.
But, failing to extend him or trade him at peak value could mean losing him for just a compensation draft pick when he hits free agency after the 2026 season.
Read the full article here
