Passan: Tigers are going to trade Tarik Skubal - NBC Sports

What the report says

NBCSports.com, citing ESPN’s Jeff Passan on SportsCenter, said late Wednesday that the Detroit Tigers are expected to trade left-handed starter Tarik Skubal. According to the NBC Sports item, Passan said Detroit is set to begin conversations with interested clubs within the next day or two, turning one of baseball’s top pitchers into a central trade-market storyline.

The report followed Skubal’s Wednesday outing against the Baltimore Orioles. NBC Sports noted that he reached 1,000 career strikeouts while striking out six and allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings. Detroit led 7-0 when he exited, but the Tigers lost the game and fell 4 1/2 games behind the final American League wild-card spot.

Skubal’s potential availability matters because the article describes him as a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, a profile that would make him a rare impact starter for a postseason contender. NBC Sports, relaying Passan’s view of the market, identified the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers as the perceived frontrunners because they have enough prospect depth and major-league talent to build a viable package.

The item also said that every contending team should at least explore a deal for Skubal. If Detroit proceeds, the decision would signal a major shift for a club still within range of the playoff race but losing ground, while giving buyers a chance to pursue a high-end rotation upgrade.