The Detroit Tigers find themselves in a tough spot, trailing the Cleveland Guardians by 11.5 games in the AL Central. As the calendar inches toward June, their postseason hopes are fading fast.
Adding to their woes, a 7-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox marked their third straight defeat. The White Sox, riding a wave of momentum in their 2026 resurgence, have climbed to second place in the division, leaving the Tigers in their wake.
Amidst this challenging season, trade whispers surrounding ace Tarik Skubal are growing louder. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the Tigers might be inclined to part ways with Skubal as the MLB trade deadline looms. Rosenthal’s insights were shared by Fox Sports MLB on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rosenthal pointed out, “As long as he proves that he is healthy again, teams are going to line up.” The real question, he noted, is whether the Tigers are ready to entertain offers. With the standings looking increasingly insurmountable, Detroit might have no choice but to listen to potential suitors.
Should Skubal return to full health, teams across the league will be eager to add the back-to-back AL Cy Young award winner to their rotations. The Los Angeles Dodgers, reigning champions for two consecutive years, are likely to express interest. Other contenders such as the Seattle Mariners, Skubal’s hometown team, and the New York Yankees are also expected to be in the mix.
Skubal is set to test his arm against live hitters on Monday as he works his way back from elbow surgery. This cutting-edge procedure was undertaken with the hope that Skubal could once again be a force in the postseason.
Fans from the Dodgers, Yankees, Mariners, and other interested teams will be watching closely. A strong performance on Monday could hasten his return to Detroit’s rotation.
Whether he stays with the Tigers past early August remains to be seen, but if not, Rosenthal’s prediction might just come true.