Tigers predicted to trade Tarik Skubal regardless of postseason odds for one reason

Tigers predicted to trade Tarik Skubal regardless of postseason odds for one reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>There might not be a team at the center of the Major League Baseball world more than the Detroit Tigers right now. It's not because of their recent hot streak, but rather what they will do with Tarik Skubal at the MLB trade deadline.

>He could be traded to bring back a huge haul, or the Tigers could believe in this team in a wide-open American League and pursue a deep postseason run.

>However, Mike Axisa of CBS Sports is predicting that the Tigers and president of baseball operations Scott Harris will be "pragmatic," and trade Skubal this summer regardless of what the team's postseason odds are by the deadline for one reason.

Tigers predicted to trade Tarik Skubal regardless of postseason odds for one reason"Because the postseason is still no slam dunk, I boldly predict president of baseball operations Scott Harris - who is pragmatic, possibly to a fault - will go ahead and trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the deadline even after the team's recent hot streak," Axisa predicts.

>A Skubal trade would hardly be a surprise at this point, considering how much talk there has been about a potential trade both over the offseason and during the 2026 season.

>With the trade deadline under two weeks away, the Tigers will need to make a decision soon. Sitting at 50-54, the Tigers are 3.5 games back in the AL Wild Card hunt, and could easily justify keeping Skubal if they make up a bit more ground.

>However, Axisa is predicting that the Tigers will trade Skubal regardless of their status as postseason contenders. Axisa explained why he's making this prediction, and it's a simple reason that unfortunately makes sense.

>"The ruthless, cold-hearted baseball move is trading him for multiple young players rather than keeping him for what is still a not-great shot at a postseason berth, only to lose him for nothing but a draft pick in free agency," Axisa writes.

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>While the Tigers surely would rather be contenders in what could be Skubal's last season, there are too many issues with the team to see the Tigers as World Series contenders.

>Besides, trading Skubal for a massive haul at the deadline is a clear way to upgrade the team long-term. And it's not like the Tigers can't still pursue Skubal in free agency once the season's over, though a trade could hurt their odds for a free-agent deal.

>But, regardless of the Tigers' chances of making the postseason by the trade deadline, the cold-hearted best-path forward for the Tigers is to trade Skubal.

>The back-to-back Cy Young winner would bring back a massive return, one that could set the Tigers up for long-term success well beyond the 2026 season.

>Axisa is predicting the Tigers trade Skubal regardless of their record by the deadline, and it's unfortunately a very realistic outcome. It might be the best thing for the future of the franchise, even if it really hurts in the moment.

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