"Death rotation if this happens" - Fans react to rumors linking Tarik Skubal to $2.2B-worth AL West team

The Seattle Mariners have been floated as a potential suitor for Tarik Skubal. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Mariners are expected to be among the teams showing interest in the Tigers ace if Detroit decides to take trade calls this offseason.

Skubal is coming off a dominant year in Detroit, finishing near the top of the AL Cy Young race after posting elite strikeout numbers and one of the best WHIPs in baseball.

He’s the kind of top-of-the-rotation arm who could change the balance of power in the American League. Seattle, valued by Forbes at around $2.2 billion, certainly has the resources to take a big swing if the front office decides it’s time to go all in.

Fans were quick to react to Olney's report.

“Death rotation if this happens,” one fan wrote.

Caid

@Caiden55813

@UnderdogMLB @Buster_ESPN Death rotation if this happens

“The Mariners are not going to be able to afford Skubal. It’s a ridiculous notion. He belongs on the Yankees. They need him and can afford him,” a fan said.

“Mariners need guys who can actually hit a baseball. Pitching is the least of their worries,” one fan commented.

“As they should be. Rotation was too inconsistent in the playoffs. Whatever the price, get it done,” a fan tweeted.

“He’s not even on the market yet lol,” another fan said.

“Mariners have arguably the best rotation in baseball… do they need him?” a fan wrote.

Tarik Skubal emerges as the top arm on the market amid growing tension with Tigers

The Tigers ace just wrapped up a season with a 2.21 ERA, 6.6 WAR, 241 strikeouts, and a 13-6 record. Detroit would love to keep him, but that might not be simple with teams like the Boston Red Sox ready to make aggressive offers.

"The Red Sox are focused on adding starting pitching," Jim Bowden reported in The Athletic. "And they have plenty of prospects in their strong farm system to perhaps trade for top arms like Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, or Freddy Peralta."

A rotation featuring Garrett Crochet and Skubal would be a dream for Red Sox fans, but it's not too far-fetched given Boston’s resources.

The real problem lies in Detroit. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that there’s a “massive gap” in contract talks between the Tigers and Skubal, roughly $80 million, well below market value.

For a 2024 Cy Young winner and Scott Boras client, anything under $400 million is a nonstarter. Unless something changes fast, the Tigers might have no choice but to start listening to offers.