Tigers insider explains unlikely Tarik Skubal trade scenario tied to Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez

Tarik Skubal enjoyed a phenomenal campaign in 2025. Finishing the regular season with a 13-6 record, 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts, the ace played a starring role in helping the Detroit Tigers make the postseason, picking up his second consecutive AL Cy Young award in the process.

Depsite being his team's most influential player, Skubal has been extensively linked with a move away from Detroit. Set to be a free agent this time next year, many thought the Tigers, who are unlikely to re-sign the southpaw, might decide to cash in while they still can.

Those rumors have died down a bit as the offseason has gone on, and it looks like the ace will continue calling the Motor City home in 2026.

According to a The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen, a trade may still materialize, but that would require an improbable sequence of events to play out. Stavenhagen explained his thoughts on Tuesday's episode of "Tiger Territory."

"I think the only way it's going to happen, is if there's some other movement on the market," Stavenhagen said (Timestamp: 6:29). "If there's a team, the Mets being a great example, that is chasing a Framber Valdez or one of the other top starters, and they don't get him, then you can go one of three places. You can sit there and do nothing. If you're a big-market team, that doesn't really fly. You can dip into the middle of the market, which is full of snake pits and traps. Or you can trade some prospects and you can go get the best pitcher in the game.

"There's not a pitcher on the market that's really comparable to Tarik Skubal. There's some alternatives that will cost you money but not prospects. But if the right team misses out on a (Framber) Valdez, a (Ranger) Suarez, would they consider turning towards (Tarik) Skubal? That, to me, is the only thing is that really makes sense for how a deal would get off the ground."

Tarik Skubal has previously distanced himself from trade rumors

Making an appearance on Nov. 20's episode of Foul Territory, Tarik Skubal had his say on all the trade rumors that have been surrounding him.

"The way social media is, it's hard not to see things about yourself, especially when it's talking about trades and kind of all those hypotheticals," Skubal said. "It's all out of my control. I think as a player, you don't really like, I mean, unless you want to be traded, but like, that's a whole different situation.

"It's not like I want to be traded. So it is, it does kind of like, you know, 'hey, why am I in this? Why am I in this conversation to begin with?'... I try to just stay off of it and not look at it."

Tigers fans will be hoping to enjoy to another memorable season with Tarik Skubal before the ace inevitably secures a big payday in free agency.

Edited by Raghav Mehta