Scott Harris' Framber Valdez move flipped the script and could change Tarik Skubal outlook

24 hours ago, things weren't looking great for Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris. The Tigers' offseason had largely been defined by inactivity, and the team's standing with Tarik Skubal was only getting worse by the day. While there are larger Skubal questions that remain, Harris may have opened the door to greener pastures by striking a historic deal with free-agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez.

The signing of Valdez is certainly a reflection of where things stand with Skubal. Perhaps there's foreshadowing in the Tigers agreeing to give Valdez an AAV of $38 million just hours after Skubal's arbitration hearing wrapped up.

Some take that as a tell-tale sign that the Tigers will win the case, but there's a large point that has been made. For as bad as the optics have been for the Tigers' offseason, Valdez's arrival changes that. More importantly, it changes the discussion surrounding Skubal.

No, the Tigers aren't going to increase their efforts to trade Skubal. For as bad as Detroit has handled the PR stance with him, trading the homegrown, two-time American League Cy Young award winner after signing a polarizing presence in Valdez would be disastrous — even for the Tigers.

Tigers’ bold Framber Valdez signing just rewrote Tarik Skubal’s outlook for 2026

The Valdez signing makes one thing clear for the Tigers: they are pushing their chips to the middle of the table when it comes to making the most out of what could be Skubal's last year in Detroit.

There's a case to be made that they waited too long to make this pivot, but now that they are here, this could change Skubal's outlook.

The allure of a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers is always going to be there. But it's been suggested that Skubal's preference may be to stay with the Tigers. There have been far too many times that people have suggested that Skubal is trying to look like the nice guy while trying to scoot his way out of town. That take doesn't match reality.

Skubal has always maintained that his preference is to stay in Detroit, but would anyone really fault him for leaving if the Tigers gave the impression they weren't going for it in 2026? That is where hope lies within the Valdez signing. There is now something the team can point to in their talks with Skubal to suggest they are motivated to build a contender around him.

Beyond that, the money the Tigers handed out to Valdez could suggest that if things reach a dire situation with Skubal next offseason, Detroit will pony up the cash. It could be perceived as wishful thinking, but that is exactly what Harris has allowed for with his latest move.