Tarik Skubal trade buzz suggests Tigers might still be mulling 2026 contention

For all the noise surrounding Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers still haven't actually done the one thing that would signal a trade is imminent: seriously start shopping him.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, the Tigers had yet to engage clubs in meaningful Skubal trade talks as of Friday afternoon. That was further confirmed on Saturday morning. While it could change quickly before Monday's 6 p.m. ET deadline, it's bizarre that there hasn't been any progression with trade talks.

The lack of urgency is noteworthy. Detroit enters the weekend at 51-58, 6 1/2 games out of the AL Central and 4 1/2 games out of the final Wild Card spot. FanGraphs gives the Tigers a 25.3% chance of reaching the postseason. Those aren't great odds, but they aren't dead, either.

And until the Tigers officially open the bidding on Skubal, the possibility remains that all of the trade chatter is serving a purpose.

Skubal is set to become a free agent after this season, so Detroit doesn't have the luxury of simply holding him for another run in 2027. If extending Skubal remains impossible, Monday represents the Tigers' final realistic opportunity to extract a massive prospect haul rather than risk losing him for comparatively little in free agency.

That should theoretically create urgency. Instead, the Tigers appear comfortable waiting.

Tarik Skubal trade standoff suggests Tigers haven’t fully abandoned contention plans

The Athletic reported that Detroit knows offers will arrive quickly once it signals a willingness to seriously discuss Skubal. In other words, there's little reason for president of baseball operations Scott Harris to spend days negotiating against himself. Let interested clubs wonder whether Detroit might actually keep him. Let the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and any other suitors feel the pressure of the clock.

The Tigers' handling of Casey Mize only adds another layer of intrigue. Detroit scratched Mize from Friday's scheduled start and opted for a bullpen game instead. Mize has been dealing with a groin issue, but protecting another potential trade candidate days before the deadline certainly looks like something a seller would do.

Still, selling Mize or other veterans doesn't necessarily mean Skubal must follow them out the door. Skubal has a 2.70 ERA in eight starts since returning June 13 from surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow. Any team surrendering an enormous package will also want time to review a medical history that includes Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon surgery.

Detroit has a decision coming very soon. But the fact that it hasn't seriously started negotiating yet could be telling. The Tigers may be preparing to sell. They may also be making absolutely certain that, if Skubal goes, another team pays a price so overwhelming that abandoning even their slim 2026 contention hopes becomes impossible to argue against.

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