New Tarik Skubal Trade Rumors Reveal Tigers 'At Least Mulling' Potential Deal at MLB Deadline

The Detroit Tigers have not ruled out the possibility of moving star pitcher Tarik Skubal ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported Wednesday.

According to Rosenthal and Sammon, "the Tigers are at least mulling the possibility of securing a package for Skubal that potentially would keep them strong in the present while making them stronger for the future."

This package would likely include "a controllable starting pitcher plus quality prospects," two rival executives told Rosenthal and Sammon.

Skubal, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, is currently set to hit unrestricted free agency this fall. He missed time this season due to elbow surgery but when available has pitched 14 starts and 82.2 innings with a 2.83 ERA.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported Tuesday the Tigers are expected by rival executives to keep Skubal past the trade deadline with the "caveat" that the club "must keep playing well."

"Any slipup, and Skubal... could be had," Gonzalez reported.

After tumbling out of the postseason picture with a 6-22 record in May, the Tigers have climbed back within reach of a Wild Card spot with a 25-16 record since the start of June.

The Tigers are heading into Wednesday five games back of an AL Wild Card spot, although it would necessitate leapfrogging five clubs to get there.

Detroit now has just 11 games to decide if a postseason run is enough of a possibility to justify holding onto Skubal's expiring contract.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros have reportedly been interested in a potential trade for Skubal, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The New York Post's Jon Heyman also named the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves as potential suitors.

Gonzalez reported the Los Angeles Dodgers are seen by scouts as the club that could make the Tigers the best offer because of the depth of their outfield and pitching pipeline.

Skubal made his return from elbow surgery on June 13. In eight starts since then he has allowed an uncharacteristically-high eight home runs, but he has also struck out 53 batters while allowing just five walks over the stretch.

Whether Skubal plays out the rest of the season in Detroit, which Nightengale has reported would be his preference, could depend both on what other clubs offer and how much closer the Tigers can pull themselves to the Wild Card cutoff in the next week and a half.

Should the Tigers ultimately decide to move Skubal, other pitchers will also be expected to land on the trade block. Whether Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty remain in Detroit as part of a rotation making a postseason push might hinge on what happens with Skubal.