Detroit Tigers
· 2026-07-03
The Detroit Tigers are 12th in the American League with a 38-49 record, on a W3 streak, after beating the New York Yankees 2-6 on July 1.
The Tigers must decide whether to trade Tarik Skubal, their most valuable asset, to avoid losing him to free agency this winter.
Skubal's performance against the Yankees shows he's still one of baseball's best starters.
Tarik Skubal will likely depart the Tigers in free agency this winter, so trading him now could bring in a massive influx of promising talent.
The Tigers are eight games behind the front-running White Sox, and the Wild Card race doesn't seem to offer a lot of promise.
If the Tigers keep Skubal and he gets injured again, his trade value will plummet, and they'll lose their chance to get a good return.
Skubal is expected to get a contract close to $400 million this winter, making him a valuable trade chip.
The Tigers' manager, A.J. Hinch, praised Skubal's performance against the Yankees, saying he did an excellent job using his whole arsenal.
The Tigers play the Texas Rangers on July 3, but their focus should be on making a smart decision about Skubal's future.
Tarik Skubal knows his time in Detroit is likely coming to a close, and he's focused on competing and winning baseball games for the Tigers.
The Tigers cannot afford to let Skubal go to free agency without getting a treasure trove of prospects, or their fans will never forgive them.