New Tarik Skubal Trade Rumors on Tigers' Stance Ahead of 2026 MLB Deadline

Despite being six games under .500 entering play on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers are not going to make a rash decision as it pertains to Tarik Skubal leading up to the trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Tigers intend to "hold out as long as possible" with Skubal because they still think they can win the American League Central.

Rogers also noted rival teams feel the Tigers have the ability to win their division, resulting in "further doubt" the two-time AL Cy Young winner will be moved prior to the Aug. 3 deadline.

After the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, the rest of the AL is so mediocre that most teams could argue they are still in the playoff picture.

The only teams more than five games out of a playoff spot right now are the Toronto Blue Jays, Athletics, Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels.

Their 48-54 record doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, but the Tigers' peripherals suggest they are much better than that. Their plus-28 run differential is the fifth-best in the AL.

Detroit's 3.65 ERA ranks sixth in MLB. The offense has been the primary issue, but that largely stems from early in the season when runs were hard to come by.

Since June 1, the Tigers are eighth in MLB in wRC+ and 10th in runs scored. Their 26-16 record since that date is the third-best in baseball, behind the Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox.

The Tigers still sit 6.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and 4.5 games out of a wild card spot, but they are well positioned to make a run over the final two months.

It's an incredibly difficult spot to be in because a four-game losing streak at some point in the next 10 days could torpedo their playoff hopes, leaving them in position to potentially lose Skubal in the offseason without getting anything in return.

One thing that does help the Tigers is the deadline comes later than normal this season, so they can drag this longer to evaluate their roster and place in the standings.

Skubal is so good and such a potential difference-maker in the playoff race that it's not like the market's enthusiasm for him will dampen if they decide on Aug. 1 to fully engage in trade talks.