Skubal trade rumors, with specific players

[David Panian]

In the past couple of days, some specifics have emerged about what the Tigers have been seeking from teams that have asked about trading for Tarik Skubal.

Jon Heyman said in a Bleacher Report interview that the Tigers sought half the Yankees team, which I think we had heard about. He then goes on to mention guys like Cam Schlitter, Ben Rice and George Lombard Jr. Somewhere along the line, someone added "at a minimum" to reporting on this.

https://x.com/BRWalkoff/status/2014106650789945754

Heyman has a column in the New York Post about this, too, but it's paywalled. Maybe he says "at a minimum" in there.

Another New York Post story, by Joel Sherman, about Mets stuff included a tidbit about the Tigers asking for the Mets' top five prospects for Skubal. The article is paywalled, but it's summarized by a Mets newsletter writer here:

https://bsky.app/profile/yayroger.bsky.social/post/3md6qq4gxdz2k

MLB Pipeline has started to release its top prospects list for 2026 but hasn't done the Mets yet. The 2025 list had the Mets' top five prospects as pitcher Nolan McLean, outfield Carson Benge, pitcher Jonah Tong, 3B/1B Jacob Reimer and OF/2B A.J. Ewing. All played at Double-A or higher last season.

Past speculation included some or all of those names, particularly McLean and Tong.

Considering the Rangers traded five of their top prospects for MacKenzie Gore, it seems reasonable the Tigers would seek something like that for Skubal, even though Gore isn't going to be a free agent for a few more years. Skubal is simply a much better pitcher than Gore. 

David

[Peter Welch]

So Harris has been asking for the moon.  I don't blame him, but it's too late now.  Nobody is giving up their top prospects for Skubal now, especially since he'll be getting $32+ million in arbitration.

It would make no sense for the Mets to have traded McLean in a package for Skubal since McLean is under team control for 6 years and is already one of the best young starters in baseball.   Same with the Yankees and Cam Schlitter.  Why would you give up 6 years of team control of a top young pitcher for 1 year of a pitcher whose agent is Scott Boras and wants his client to be the highest-paid pitcher in history after this season?

If Skubal is to be traded it will be at the deadline this season if the Tigers are out of contention on July 31 (which I don't think will happen since the Tigers should be still in contention on July 31 unless things go terribly wrong this year).  I expect the Dodgers will trade for Skubal if he is traded at the deadline.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2026 12:55 PM
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Subject: Skubal trade rumors, with specific players

 

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