Will Tigers Pony up for Skubal

[AlaskanTigersFan]

I think you all grossly underestimate Skubals value..... You're talking about multiple top 100 prospects for him. A trade package for Skubal netting Jose De Paula, Mike Sirota, River Ryan and a throw in like Brady smith is not out of the realm of possibility..... 

If the Tigers trade Skubal, they will be getting two top 100 prospects (one being top 25) and more.... You don't pass that up. You don't build to go all out one year, then suck balls for 15 years. Look at the Red Wings..... If they do it right, they can literally put themselves in the position to win the Division for the next decade and have a chance at a WS every year. If they keep Skubal, sure they might make it to the playoffs, but they'll get bounced and we won't sniff the playoffs for 10+ years.

C - Dinger (1st division Regular)
1B - Tork (not)
2B - Lee (not)
SS - McGonigle (1st Division Regular)
3B - Keith (Not [may be some day if we're lucky])
LF - Greene (1st Division Regular)
CF - Who the phak is even playing here.... (Waiting for Max Clark)
RF - Again, who the phak is even playing here
DH - Kerry Carpenter (Borderline 1st Division Regular but most likely not)

Jobe - #1 Pitcher
Melton - #3 Pitcher
Valdez - #3 pitcher (should be ace but he's on the decline and maaaaaaaaaybe a #2 if you're lucky)

Bullpen
Tyler Holton - Good Setup man
No one else.....

 

Even if we add Rainer as a 1st Division Regular and that's a big if, that gives you 4 MAYBE 5 first division regulars.....

I'm sorry guys. This team sucks balls like the hoe's on Woodward........ They need more help. If Skubal is with us come playoff time, then you might as well become fans of another team because it'll be 10 more years before we can even mouth the words playoffs.......

We currently have three everyday players hitting above .260..... that's six players batting .231 or below in your lineup. You think that's WS worthy? FML. Tell me who your dealer is cuz you phaked up and I want to join you in the clouds........
 

[chasfh]

Ummm … wow.

[Tenacious D]

Losing Skubal will suck, especially if we get a comp pick in return, but it will not setback this team. 5 years? 10 years?  Hyperbole much?!?

If we’re close to a wild card spot at the deadline, I’m OK with the team going for it. As mentioned, we have three perennial All-Star caliber players in Dingler, Greene and McGonigle. We have enough in-house candidates for 2B and 3B, that someone is likely to emerge. Not ready to give up on Meadows, who can be at least league average. Clark and Anderson should be ready next season. We need to upgrade 1B and maybe RF. Briceno getting hurt sets him back, but should be able to play 1B next season at some point.

Comparing the Tigers to the Angels is silly—they have been awful for a long time.  The Tigers have been in the playoffs the last two seasons with a very young core. And they will have over $100M coming off their payroll next year which allows them to fill in where they need help.

This season has been a disappointment, but I don’t think it’s indicative of their near future.

[4hzglory]

ATF is the same guy who basically guaranteed Painter would be almost as good as Skubal this year.  😂

[NorthWoods]

38 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

. Not ready to give up on Meadows, who can be at least league average.

.....maybe but no sure thing and its only good for 27 games per year 

[Tenacious D]

42 minutes ago, NorthWoods said:

.....maybe but no sure thing and its only good for 27 games per year 

I’m not going to hold fluke injuries against the guy.  That was also the rap on Greene, and he’s proven durable the last two seasons.

[AlaskanTigersFan]

10 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

ATF is the same guy who basically guaranteed Painter would be almost as good as Skubal this year.  😂

I would still take Painter, Miller and Crawford for Skubal right now. (And disclaimer, I said I think within a year or two I think Painter could be 80% of what Skubal is which I still believe.)

Also, when it comes to Greene, I'm not sold he's a franchise player. His last 30 games he has a stat line of .218/.313/.364..... And his season numbers are propped up by an unsustainable .395 BABIP. If you reduce .040 from his stat line, his season numbers look like .250/.347/.402 with a .749 OPS..... I hate to say it, but he's been pretty lucky this year. He's still a first division regular on most teams, but I don't know if he's a perennial All Star / Franchise player that a lot of Tiger fans make him out to be...... His SO % is back up to 30% already for the year.....

Hey, I'd love to be wrong. But when you compare the Tigers team to others, I just think they are so far back from where they really need to be.... I get I'm the minority here. Just objectively I'd rather be in the playoff hunt for the next 10 years versus just this year and then not even being relevant, which I fear could happen if we don't move Skubal..... Just my $0.02...........

[chasfh]

I really don't think Skubal is THE difference between our contending for the next ten years and becoming the Angels for the next ten years.

That said, if we are substantially under .500 with too many teams above us fighting for the sixth playoff spot by late July, I could see a targeted sell of guys who have career decisions to make this winter. I don't think 2-1/2 months of Skubal will get anyone to empty out the top of their systems. Teams simply aren't doing that anymore. But he should return a least one really solid upper minors Pipeline-ranked prospect and a lower team-minors ranked prospect, at least one of whom had better be a top starting pitcher prospect. That depends, of course, on how the market shapes up for him. Mize probably gets us a team-ranked guy plus a lottery ticket. I don't think we can move anyone else on this team, including Torres, for anyone worth much.

[Sports_Freak]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

I really don't think Skubal is THE difference between our contending for the next ten years and becoming the Angels for the next ten years.

That said, if we are substantially under .500 with too many teams above us fighting for the sixth playoff spot by late July, I could see a targeted sell of guys who have career decisions to make this winter. I don't think 2-1/2 months of Skubal will get anyone to empty out the top of their systems. Teams simply aren't doing that anymore. But he should return a least one really solid upper minors Pipeline-ranked prospect and a lower team-minors ranked prospect, at least one of whom had better be a top starting pitcher prospect. That depends, of course, on how the market shapes up for him. Mize probably gets us a team-ranked guy plus a lottery ticket. I don't think we can move anyone else on this team, including Torres, for anyone worth much.

Serious questions: How many games was Cleveland out on August 1st, 2025? And how many games out were the Tigers on August 1st, 2024? With 60+ games left, never just give up on a season. The only way the Tigers should trade Skubal is if San Diego and the Dodgers get into a bidding war and we end up with a haul, a haul we just can't turn down. I dont see it happening for a 3 month rental, but we'll see...

[Tigermojo]

4 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Serious questions: How many games was Cleveland out on August 1st, 2025? And how many games out were the Tigers on August 1st, 2024? With 60+ games left, never just give up on a season. The only way the Tigers should trade Skubal is if San Diego and the Dodgers get into a bidding war and we end up with a haul, a haul we just can't turn down. I dont see it happening for a 3 month rental, but we'll see...

They have played very good baseball in June. If they continue until the deadline, I would not be happy with selling. 

If they slump again, I would understand selling, still wouldn't be happy about it but "it is what it is" right Riley Greene?

[NorthWoods]

5 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Serious questions: How many games was Cleveland out on August 1st, 2025? And how many games out were the Tigers on August 1st, 2024? With 60+ games left, never just give up on a season. The only way the Tigers should trade Skubal is if San Diego and the Dodgers get into a bidding war and we end up with a haul, a haul we just can't turn down. I dont see it happening for a 3 month rental, but we'll see...

IF as I've seen speculated on other sites (I forget which writer but it was a national BB writer) the Dodgers are willing to give up 2 of their 4 best OF prospects and a top 10 pitching prospect we should make the trade regardless.  There would be an argument that this would actually improve our overall team going forward.

[Sports_Freak]

28 minutes ago, NorthWoods said:

IF as I've seen speculated on other sites (I forget which writer but it was a national BB writer) the Dodgers are willing to give up 2 of their 4 best OF prospects and a top 10 pitching prospect we should make the trade regardless.  There would be an argument that this would actually improve our overall team going forward.

Yeah, the under .500 non-Skubal record was before we had our current pitching. But our May record without him terrifies me. Of course, we had several other injuries. And the $30 million+ that will come off the books without him would buy us another quality pitcher in free agency. If Harris can get a huge package like some people "speculate". do it. But I really question how much of that speculation is actually real and how much is just click bait?

[Tenacious D]

30 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Yeah, the under .500 non-Skubal record was before we had our current pitching. But our May record without him terrifies me. Of course, we had several other injuries. And the $30 million+ that will come off the books without him would buy us another quality pitcher in free agency. If Harris can get a huge package like some people "speculate". do it. But I really question how much of that speculation is actually real and how much is just click bait?

In May, Skubal might have received 5-6 starts.  With the way our offense performed, maybe we win 2 or 3 extra games of his starts, but that still wouldn’t have salvaged the month.

Pitchers of his talent make all the difference in the postseason when they can typically pitch twice in a short series. Which why certain teams will covet him.  Not only do you want him taking the mound for you, you also want to avoid having to face him.

[Sports_Freak]

11 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

In May, Skubal might have received 5-6 starts.  With the way our offense performed, maybe we win 2 or 3 extra games of his starts, but that still wouldn’t have salvaged the month.

Pitchers of his talent make all the difference in the postseason when they can typically pitch twice in a short series. Which why certain teams will covet him.  Not only do you want him taking the mound for you, you also want to avoid having to face him.

Yes, for the Dodgers, not having to face him seems bigger. The Dodgers are so much better than other teams, it would probably take more than just Skubal to beat them in a 7 game series. My opinion may be unpopular but I say keep Skubal in Detroit. I really doubt some of the packages I read are legit.

[Tigermojo]

3 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Yes, for the Dodgers, not having to face him seems bigger. The Dodgers are so much better than other teams, it would probably take more than just Skubal to beat them in a 7 game series. My opinion may be unpopular but I say keep Skubal in Detroit. I really doubt some of the packages I read are legit.

Most likely none of them are legit. Trading is extremely complex and people on the outside don't have access to the information the teams have. All we can look at is past history and that's a mixed bag for rentals.

[NorthWoods]

1 hour ago, Sports_Freak said:

Yeah, the under .500 non-Skubal record was before we had our current pitching. But our May record without him terrifies me. Of course, we had several other injuries. And the $30 million+ that will come off the books without him would buy us another quality pitcher in free agency. If Harris can get a huge package like some people "speculate". do it. But I really question how much of that speculation is actually real and how much is just click bait?

We would need to get immediate help from the OF reinforcements to counter the nonSkubal/May records.

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, Sports_Freak said:

Yes, for the Dodgers, not having to face him seems bigger. The Dodgers are so much better than other teams, it would probably take more than just Skubal to beat them in a 7 game series. My opinion may be unpopular but I say keep Skubal in Detroit. I really doubt some of the packages I read are legit.

They can be beaten.  Any team can win a short series. They were almost beaten last year.  They just barely escaped.  

[chasfh]

27 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

They can be beaten.  Any team can win a short series. They were almost beaten last year.  They just barely escaped.  

Probably because they didn't have Skubal. 😉 

[4hzglory]

38 minutes ago, NorthWoods said:

We would need to get immediate help from the OF reinforcements to counter the nonSkubal/May records.

The numbers from 2024 on still show that we are a 95-100 loss team without Carpenter and a 95+ win team with him.    Not that he is 100% of it at all as Torres, Baez, Meadows, and Skubal were all out as well, but of the offensive players, only Carpenter is still back and we are still winning.  No one is saying he is a 10 war player, but 2 1/2 years and a significant amount of games isn't just small sample size.  I still say he makes a much bigger impact on the lineup/opposing teams decisions than he gets credit for.  It was evident last night when he was walked on 4 pitches when he pinch hit. 

[monkeytargets39]

After last night, I think the move is to trade Skubal regardless of where we are in the standings.  I think we can still compete with Valdez/Mize/Melton/Montero and potentially Jobe when he returns.  
 

Our problem is offense.  Skubal was carving up the Yankees and he still served up two bombs to Goldschmidt and then the two run bomb.  We have a really solid 1-5 with McGonigle, Torres, Ding, Greene and Carp.  That’s 5 guys who are either really tough outs or severe power threats.  After that, the lineup falls off a cliff.  Keith has the ability to join that group but just hasn’t yet.   Tork isn’t consistent enough to be a legit threat, and everyone else outside of Lee is just a roster filler.  
 

If trading Skubal can even net us one player who can be an impact bat within the next year at 1B/3B/RF (and a SP that can at least be a legit 3/4 to start) that would be a huge get.  Add Max Clark to CF next year and assume Torres leaves and you get:

CF- Clark

2B/3B- McGonigle

C- Dingler

LF- Greene

DH- Carpenter

RF- New Acquisition

1B- Keith/Tork

3B/2B- Lee

SS- Baez (until his contract ends or if Peck or Rainer force their way through)

That could be a fantastic lineup when healthy.  Bench can be Tork, McStinky, Malgeri/Vierling, Backup Catcher.  Maybe pencil Anderson in somewhere as well.  Outside of Greene that’d be a very cost-controlled offense aside from Baez.

Then a potential rotation of:

Valdez, Melton, Jobe, Montero, Olson/re-sign Mize/New Acquisition.  
 

and we could spend all the freed up money from Torres/Verlander/Skubal/JV/Jansen coming off the books to severely upgrade the bullpen.

 

[Nate7474]

1 hour ago, monkeytargets39 said:

After last night, I think the move is to trade Skubal regardless of where we are in the standings.  I think we can still compete with Valdez/Mize/Melton/Montero and potentially Jobe when he returns.  
 

Our problem is offense.  Skubal was carving up the Yankees and he still served up two bombs to Goldschmidt and then the two run bomb.  We have a really solid 1-5 with McGonigle, Torres, Ding, Greene and Carp.  That’s 5 guys who are either really tough outs or severe power threats.  After that, the lineup falls off a cliff.  Keith has the ability to join that group but just hasn’t yet.   Tork isn’t consistent enough to be a legit threat, and everyone else outside of Lee is just a roster filler.  
 

If trading Skubal can even net us one player who can be an impact bat within the next year at 1B/3B/RF (and a SP that can at least be a legit 3/4 to start) that would be a huge get.  Add Max Clark to CF next year and assume Torres leaves and you get:

CF- Clark

2B/3B- McGonigle

C- Dingler

LF- Greene

DH- Carpenter

RF- New Acquisition

1B- Keith/Tork

3B/2B- Lee

SS- Baez (until his contract ends or if Peck or Rainer force their way through)

That could be a fantastic lineup when healthy.  Bench can be Tork, McStinky, Malgeri/Vierling, Backup Catcher.  Maybe pencil Anderson in somewhere as well.  Outside of Greene that’d be a very cost-controlled offense aside from Baez.

Then a potential rotation of:

Valdez, Melton, Jobe, Montero, Olson/re-sign Mize/New Acquisition.  
 

and we could spend all the freed up money from Torres/Verlander/Skubal/JV/Jansen coming off the books to severely upgrade the bullpen.

 

I agree with you and would look to trade him unless we went on a ridiculous win streak.

I like the Brewers as a potential match of high end prospects that are somewhat blocked. A return of something like Lara-CF, Adamczewski-OF, along with a a pitcher or 2 like Leston and Thompson. They are so deep in top 100 and borderline top 100 prospects that there has to be something we could work out. I also like the idea of getting multiple Borderline top 100 prospects vs. just one or two top prospects. 

[1984Echoes]

On 6/24/2026 at 12:17 PM, Tigermojo said:

They have played very good baseball in June. If they continue...

You mean where in the last 16 games they are 8-8?

Sorry, but that's not good enough to get back into the playoff race if that is what happens in the next 32 games...

[Tigermojo]

11 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

You mean where in the last 16 games they are 8-8?

Sorry, but that's not good enough to get back into the playoff race if that is what happens in the next 32 games...

Interesting sample size.

5 and 6 since June 12th!

Edited June 25 by Tigermojo

[1984Echoes]

They have - roughly - about 32 games to prove to Harris that they have a good chance at making the playoffs. 

16 games is all June, and doesn't include the May disaster.

So about twice my small sample size, more or less.

[1984Echoes]

That's giving them about 1 week prior to the trade deadline.

At which Harris will have to make a decision, one way or the other.

He can't wait until the day prior to the deadline, it doesn't work that way...

Just my 2 cents.