Tarik Skubal’s future continues to be up in the air, and MLB insider Jayson Stark recently offered an updated check on the Detroit Tigers ace, which shows where teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers stand in the sweepstakes.
While speculation around Skubal has been a thing for a few months, Stark wrote that there’s no indication Detroit is ready to make a move.
“Nothing about the current vibe around the Tigers suggests that they’re seriously considering moving Skubal this spring. But who knows where this is leading? He’s flooring it down the road to the richest free-agent pitching contract ever next winter,” he wrote.
“But is that happening in Detroit? Seems like an awful bet. Meanwhile, is it possible there will be lingering issues from his historic win in arbitration?”
Stark’s reporting shows what’s going on with Skubal’s situation. On the one hand, Detroit still controls an ace entering his prime, the type of arm that franchises rarely move. On the other hand, his value and free agency in 2026 raise long-term financial questions.
The Tigers are very unlikely to pay him unless he takes a pay cut, which we know won’t happen with the best pitcher in the world.
For big-market contenders like the Dodgers, there’s always a way for them to get in the mix. It sounds scary to a lot of teams in baseball, but Los Angeles has enough in its farm system to put together a competitive deal.
