Rumored Tarik Skubal trade destinations give Tigers every reason not to move him

It's not going to go away. Unless the Detroit Tigers cough up an unfathomable sum of money to Tarik Skubal, the ace isn't going to sign an extension, meaning the trade rumors will continue to swirl.

In the midst of that, an important question is overlooked. Why on earth would the Tigers consider trading him now, when it will only make one of the best teams in MLB stronger? Let's be real, any team acquiring Skubal has eyes on the 2026 World Series title, which, after a long and arduous rebuild, is exactly what the Tigers are looking to achieve as well.

Detroit's window is just beginning to open, and while it looks a whole lot wider for a whole lot longer with Skubal in the fold, 2026 could be the year they reach the mountaintop with Skubal heading the rotation, assuming, of course, they make the necessary investments around him.

Tigers Rumors: Tarik Skubal trade destinations are teams with top payrolls

Let's be real. The only teams that would seriously pursue Skubal are the big market powerhouses. That's the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays in the American League, better known as the Tigers' direct competition. In the National League, that means the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the two clubs most likely to represent the NL in the World Series. The San Francisco Giants have also been floated as a possibility.

So, it's obvious that a benign club like the pitiful Colorado Rockies isn't going to let the Tigers raid their treasure chest. Detroit has to face the fact that trading Skubal means giving a huge advantage to a rival.

The other stark reality is that history shows that aces in their walk years, even those of Skubal's caliber, don't yield much on the trade market. Sure, some of these rumored landing spots, like the Mets or Red Sox, have deep farm systems, but why would they blow up their stockpile when they know they'll have to compete on the open market to retain Skubal's services next winter, just like anyone else?

The only benefit a rival gets from trading for the superstar southpaw now is the chance to have one more year to make a run with him before signing what will be a record-breaking contract. In the grand scheme of things, that's not worth all that much, especially with a potential lockout in 2027 looming.

As such, the Tigers' best course of action is to hold. If they make a couple of splashes in free agency, overhaul the bullpen, and integrate their prized youngsters like Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark, they'll be in a prime position to make a run. Trading Skubal now would only make that exponentially harder.