Less than two years ago, the Detroit Tigers’ had one of the brightest futures in all of major league baseball. Following nine consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, the team ended its drought with an 86-win season in 2024. That mark secured them an American League Wild Card date with the Houston Astros, whom they beat in three games. They took a 2–1 series lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the following round, before dropping the final two games and losing the series.
In 2025, the Tigers won 87 games and avenged their defeat against the Guardians in the Wild Card round in three games. In the next round, the team came up short in five games once again, losing to the Seattle Mariners in a 15-inning rubber match. The end result hurt, but it became apparent that the foundation was in place.
After back-to-back playoff appearances, the team was expected to take another step forward in 2026 and challenge for the American League pennant. The exact opposite, however, has happened.
Through 60 games, the Tigers are tied for the worst record in baseball at 22–38, positioning them 11 ½ games out of first place in the American League Central. Injuries have plagued the team, with players like Javier Baez, Gleyber Torres, and Kenley Jansen missing significant time. However, none of their absences has affected the team quite like pitcher Tarik Skubal’s.
A Miserable May
Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, was placed on the IL on May 4. At that point, the Tigers were 18–17 and fresh off a series victory over the Texas Rangers. The coming weeks looked murky, but the Tigers were alive in a tightly packed American League.
Since that day, the Tigers have lost 21 of 26 games. That series victory over the Rangers was their most recent, with the team sitting in the American League cellar. But while Skubal is expected to return in the coming weeks, his next appearance should not come in a Tigers uniform.
The Hard Truth
After this season, Skubal is an unrestricted free agent, meaning any team can bid for his services. At 15 games below .500, the Tigers would have a hard time convincing their ace to stay. Therefore, the smart thing to do is cash in on his value before he leaves for nothing.
The price would be lower than normal, since Skubal is an impending free agent and could leave after the end of the season. Still, a two-time Cy Young Award winner would cost a pretty penny. Yes, trading away a team’s ace and franchise cornerstone is never easy. However, watching him leave for nothing is even harder.
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