Cubs-Marlins trade just made confirmed massive haul Tigers would get for Tarik Skubal

There's been a subtle reminder throughout the offseason of the massive haul the Detroit Tigers would receive if they were to trade Tarik Skubal. The Shane Baz trade between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays was the biggest example of that, but the latest trade between the Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs offered a fresh dose of reality.

Dating back to the trade deadline last season, the Marlins had been shopping starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. Like with Baz, trading for Cabrera was going to be an upside play for any team that acquired him, hoping that their pitching infrastructure could unlock the best version of the 27-year-old starting pitcher. Cabrera is also under control for three seasons.

It's the primary reason why the Cubs parted with their top prospect, Owen Caissie, as part of their trade with the Miami Marlins. The Cubs also kicked in two low-level prospects who offer a high ceiling for the Marlins' farm system.

Caissie was entering the 2026 season as one of the best prospects in all of baseball, but his inclusion in the trade between the two teams speaks to the rising price of trading for pitching.

Tarik Skubal trade price might’ve just doubled thanks to Cubs-Marlins deal

The general rule of thumb is that a pitcher with three years of control is going to fetch more on the trade market than a pitcher who is a free agent after one year. But as Tigers fans already know, Skubal is the exception to every rule. He's a reigning two-time Cy Young award winner and is the best pitcher in baseball.

The rule book is thrown out the window if the Tigers actually were to make Skubal available in trade talks. The Tigers wouldn't just get one top prospect, as the Marlins did for Cabrera; Detroit would be able to gut the farm system of the team they are trading with.

Obviously, for a Tigers team with the goal of contending in 2026, it's not exactly the conversation that fans want to have at this moment. That being said, with trades like the Cabrera one, the conversation is only going to get louder until Detroit picks a definitive lane to travel before Skubal hits free agency next offseason.