The only acceptable Tarik Skubal trade for Tigers involves Orioles going the distance

The Detroit Tigers have one of the top starting pitchers in the American League in Tarik Skubal, and the Baltimore Orioles could really use him. As the trade deadline gets closer, the Tigers fall further out of contention, and the speculation grows, we'll unfortunately hve to at least weigh in here until the clock strikes 6 p.m. ET on July 30.

Let's consider where these two teams are right now, at this point in the season. The Orioles have a 53-38 record and sit in first place in the American League East as legitimate World Series contenders. They still have a chance to improve even more at the MLB trade deadline, specifically by acquiring starting and/or relief pitching. They could (and should) be one of the league's most aggressive potential buyers at the deadline.

Then, you have the Tigers. Yes, their 8-2 run up to the All-Star break was impressive, but this is likely a .500 team with extremely low odds of making the playoffs this year. They aren't under the same pressure to win now, and their focus should be on the future.

Skubal has been electric for the Tigers all season. In 19 starts, he has compiled a 10-3 record to go along with a 2.41 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 6.7 K/BB ratio in 116 innings pitched. Those numbers could do wonders for an Orioles rotation that lacks playoff-caliber starters beyond Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez.

According to MLB insider Tom Verducci, the Orioles have been one of the teams with known interest in Skubal, and it's easy to see why. But Detroit has the upper hand here – Skubal can't become a free agent until after 2026, so even if the Tigers are open to trading him, there's no rush. And if they feel strongly about their chances the next two seasons, there's no reason to make a move, unless ...

An Orioles trade package for Tarik Skubal has to include Jackson Holliday

Since the Tigers aren't under any immediate pressure to trade Skubal, they can afford to set the price of acquisition exorbitantly high. If the Orioles are indeed going to engage in trade talks with Detroit – and win a potential bidding war against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have also shown interest in Skubal – infield prospect Jackson Holliday has to be on the table.

Holliday, the top prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com, would be a tremendous get for the Tigers. Yes, he struggled significantly in his 10 games of MLB action, but there is still every reason to believe he's going to be a star in this league. It might seem unthinkable for the Orioles, but a superstar prospect could very well be the price to pay a proven, front-of-the-rotation pitcher who is elite at the MLB level.

Holliday's projected ceiling is off the charts, but even without him, the Orioles have most of the necessary pieces to win a World Series this year. Skubal is the type of piece that could put a team in win-now mode like Baltimore over the edge. The Tigers may be disinclined to trade Skubal, but if they can convince the Orioles to part with Holliday – as well as one or two other elite prospects in their top-ranked farm system – there's no way Detroit doesn't pull the trigger on that deal.

The sooner they can kick Javy Baez to the curb, the happier Tigers fans will be.

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