Last week, I wrote how every MLB team might match up with the Detroit Tigers in a potential Tarik Skubal deal and narrowed down the list of most likely trade partners to seven teams. Now, with roughly two months to go before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, let’s take a look at those seven clubs and see what the Tigers might be able to get from them in any potential deal, should they make Skubal available.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have a deep farm system, which would make it easier for them to offer the Tigers a premium prospect package without decimating their minor-league depth. The Dodgers are especially deep in outfield prospects, and the Tigers could insist on one of their top ones among the group of Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, Eduardo Quintero, James Tibbs III and Mike Sirota, and then combine that with one of their major-league starting pitchers in Emmet Sheehan or Justin Wrobleski.
Justin Wrobleski would slide right into the Tigers’ rotation if he were part of a Tarik Skubal trade. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
If the Dodgers balk at offering either Sheehan or Wrobleski, the Tigers could pivot and ask for one of their top starting pitching prospects instead, like River Ryan or Christian Zazueta. One of those four pitchers with one of those outfielders would be pretty close to what a realistic return would look like, although the Dodgers would probably have to throw in a third player, like right-hander Brady Smith, to close the deal.
2. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are my sleeper team to land Skubal as team president Erik Neander is one of the smartest executives in the game and has a long history of making stealth attempts to acquire players like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
The Rays’ farm system is loaded and they could get creative in making an offer, starting with outfielder Theo Gillen, their top prospect, and right-handers Anderson Brito and Ty Nichols. Then they can finish the proposal with shortstop Victor Valdez. A strong package of these four prospects would really bode well for the future of the Tigers and, at the same time, give the Rays a legitimate chance to get back to the World Series.
3. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are in position to offer a mix of major-league-ready talent and minor-league prospects. They could offer infielder Matt Shaw, outfielder Kevin Alcántara and right-hander Dominick Reid.
Shaw presently is in a utility role with the Cubs but profiles as an everyday player with second base being his best position. He can also play third or an outfield corner, and we all know how much Tigers manager A.J. Hinch loves positional flexibility. Alcántara could compete for playing time in right field for the Tigers, while Reid gives them another top pitching prospect for their pipeline.
4. New York Yankees
The Yankees are not going to trade top pitching prospects Carlos Lagrange or Elmer Rodríguez, nor are they going to talk about infielders George Lombard Jr. or Dax Kilby for a rental. However, they might consider dealing right-hander Ben Hess and outfielder Spencer Jones to land Skubal, especially if they believe they can sign Skubal long-term. Can you imagine an October rotation of Skubal, Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler and Max Fried?
Would the Tigers have interest in Spencer Jones joining a future outfield of him, Riley Greene and Max Clark? (Julia Jacome / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Hess returned from the injured list on May 14 after being sidelined since April 18 due to forearm inflammation, so of course the medicals would be an important part of including him in a deal. Jones has tremendous power and speed but also might strike out 200 times per year. It would be tough to deal Jones with his upside but we are talking about Skubal and we’re talking about the Yankees striving to win their first World Series since 2009.
5. San Diego Padres
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is always in on acquiring superstar players when they become available and is never afraid to trade his top prospects to acquire these types of players, as he did with Juan Soto and Mason Miller. Therefore, he’ll probably be willing to dangle at least one of his top pitching prospects, and maybe even two, among left-handers Kruz Schoolcraft and Kash Mayfield and right-hander Miguel Mendez. He could perhaps combine one of those pitchers with shortstop Jorge Quintana, catcher Ty Harvey or outfielders Braedon Karpathios or Ryan Wideman to make a deal work.
Preller might even consider offering his top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas, if he can get a deal done straight-up and he feels like he could win a title this season. The Padres should not be ignored if there is a Skubal sweepstakes.
6. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks always seem to be involved when aces are on the move, dating back to the days of Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson and Zack Greinke, and more recently, Corbin Burnes. They are another real sleeper if Skubal is dealt.
Arizona has a strong farm system, especially among their position players, and could start by offering one of their top infield prospects, Tommy Troy, JD Dix or Demetrio Crisantes, and combine one of them with two of their top three pitching prospects — Daniel Eagan, David Hagamen or Patrick Forbes. It’s doubtful they’d consider offering shortstop Kayson Cunningham or outfielder Slade Caldwell.
7. Toronto Blue Jays
I think the Blue Jays would have a difficult time winning the Skubal sweepstakes unless they included shortstop JoJo Parker, their top position player prospect, and either left-hander Johnny King or both right-handers Gage Stanifer and Nolan Perry. Shortstop Arjun Nimmala could also come up in conversations. However, the Blue Jays might just pay the price, knowing how close they came to winning the World Series last year and how Skubal would really improve their chances this year.
