Tarik Skubal Trade Suitors Include One Surprising Dark Horse.nam

Every team would like to have Tarik Skubal on its roster.

The only question is at what price.

So, with the Detroit Tigers stuck somewhere between true postseason contention and falling out of the race entirely, Skubal’s future is one of the hottest topics ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. As an impending free agent, Skubal is going to get paid handsomely. But will he head into his free agency as a Tiger or as a rental for a contender?

Among the expected suitors for Skubal are two of the usual suspects: the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves. Both big-market franchises historically aren’t afraid to make bold moves, and could use pitching help. The Braves are in the first place in the NL East despite injuries to Spencer Strider and Martin Perez, while the Cubs are fighting to stay within striking distance of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central despite not having a single starting pitcher with an ERA below 4.00 or an ERA+ above 100.

But a sneaky contender for Skubal’s services, according to New York Post insider Jon Heyman, could be Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa ran away and hid from a mediocre AL in the first half of the season, and now must decide if this is the year it goes for broke in search of its first World Series title. Pitching has been the Rays’ strength, but several of their arms, such as converted reliever Griffin Jax, are on pace to shatter their previous career highs in innings pitched. Adding Skubal would give manager Kevin Cash enviable flexibility in deploying his pitching arsenal down the stretch and in a short series.

All of this requires the Tigers to actually shop Skubal, of course. With their recent strong play, that’s no longer a given. Yet with the possibility of losing Skubal for nothing looming, the Tigers might prioritize retooling their farm system above all else — and the Rays’ farm system historically hasn’t been a bad one to poach from.