New Yankees Trade Rumors on Tarik Skubal amid Race with Rays in AL East Standings

The New York Yankees are reportedly expected to at least kick the tires on a potential deal for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal prior to the MLB trade deadline.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Yankees will "gauge the cost" of Skubal if and when the Tigers place him on the trade block.

If the Yankees do decide to make a strong pursuit of Skubal, Passan added that "it doesn't matter" to them that Skubal will become a free agent at the end of the season, and his prorated salary of about $10 million for the remainder of this season "will not be an impediment."

With Skubal's contract set to expire at the end of the 2026 campaign, he was the subject of trade rumors and speculation throughout the offseason.

The Tigers decided to keep him after making the playoffs with Skubal leading the way in both 2024 and 2025, but loose bodies in his throwing elbow have limited him to just seven starts this season.

In those seven starts, Skubal went 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45 strikeouts over 43.1 innings.

Tarik Skubal Ks 11 vs. Rangers

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Skubal is still on the injured list, but he is working his way back, as he threw a four-inning simulated game on Monday, per MLB.com's Jason Beck.

Given that the Tigers are 25-38 and seemingly haven't made much progress with Skubal on a new deal, it feels more and more likely that he will be moved at the deadline.

If that happens, the team that acquires him will be banking on getting the pitcher who earned two All-Star selections, two American League Cy Young awards and two ERA titles in 2024 and 2025.

Skubal also won the AL's pitching Triple Crown in 2024 with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts.

If Skubal performs at that level, he could legitimately shift the balance of power in Major League Baseball heading toward the playoffs.

Any team would undoubtedly love to have that, including the Yankees, but it is somewhat difficult to envision them making that type of play for a starting pitcher unless injuries arise.

When fully healthy, the Yankees have a rotation consisting of Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler and Carlos Rodón, plus one of Will Warren or Ryan Weathers.

All of those pitchers have an ERA in the 3's or better, and the only one of them currently injured is Fried, who is on the IL with a bruised pitching elbow.

Should the Yankees make a splash at the deadline, it would make more sense for them to nab a big bat to supplement Aaron Judge, Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger, or a top-notch reliever since the Yanks are only 11th in bullpen ERA compared to third in ERA among starters.

It is easy to envision the Yankees making a significant trade in some form or fashion, though, since the AL is wide open and they are only one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East and the best record in the AL.