Tarik Skubal Addresses Tigers Trade Rumors Amid Cubs, Braves, Astros Buzz Ahead of MLB Deadline

Tarik Skubal will be the biggest name potentially on the market ahead of MLB's Aug. 3 trade deadline, given his pending free agency this winter, but the Detroit Tigers ace would prefer to remain with the organization.

"I think we have a chance to win World Series," he told reporters Thursday. "I've said that since spring training. That's never changed. That belief in this team has never changed throughout the season. Obviously we put ourselves in a tough situation, but I think we've come out of that situation playing really good baseball. Going into spring training and the whole offseason, I've never been more motivated to try and win a World Series for this city, the team that drafted me and helped develop me. That's always been the goal, and that will never change unless I'm told I'm on a different team."

The Tigers are just 48-54, leaving them 6.5 games out of first place in the AL Central and 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Fighting back into contention for a playoff berth certainly isn't out of the question, but it will be a tall task.

They've been hot, however—since June 1 the Tigers have gone 26-16. If they maintain that pace, they'll be a real threat to sneak into the playoffs.

Skubal, meanwhile, could command a massive trade package for the Tigers, even if he may only be a short-term rental. The two-time Cy Young-winner is 6-5 this season with a 2.83 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 98 strikeouts in 82.2 innings across 14 starts. Not too shabby for a pitcher who was sidelined between May 6 and June 13 after having surgery that removed a loose body in his pitching elbow.

Just about any contender would massively increase their World Series chances by landing the 29-year-old superstar.

It will be a fascinating storyline to follow for the next week or so. But Skubal has made his preferences known.