The trade Tigers should explore at 2026 deadline that seems like a 'sell' move

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the American League since June 1. As of now, they are not sellers, which could take Tarik Skubal off the market entirely. Yet, what if Skubal isn't the starting pitcher the Tigers ought to be shopping?

The flaws in trading Skubal have been discussed ad nauseam. He's on an expiring contract, recently returned from an elbow procedure and could cost an arm and a leg in prospect capital, all of which could limit a possible return. The asking price for Skubal is said to be at least one top-100 prospect and another team top-10 prospect, as rival executives told FanSided's Robert Murray.

Tigers fans hope it never gets to that point, however, as Skubal and his teammates have proven this group has a bite to them that was missing in their disastrous month of May.

Could the Tigers trade Framber Valdez instead of Tarik Skubal?

Rather than selling low on Skubal, Detroit could instead make one of their other starting pitchers available. Framber Valdez is under team control through at least 2027, and has a player option for the 2028 season. The high-priced free agent addition has largely been a disappointment this year — he has a 4.29 ERA in 18 starts, which is his highest mark since 2019. Valdez has given up a combined nine runs in his last two starts, and his ERA has ballooned as a result.

That doesn't even begin to sum up the frustration of the fanbase, however, relating to distractions Detroit couldn't afford early in the year. The Tigers took a chance signing a pitcher who crossed up his own catcher last season in Houston. There's a reason Valdez tried (and failed in some cases) to convince prospective free-agent suitors that he was, in fact, a good person and teammate last winter. The Tigers bought the act, and were quickly proven wrong in early May when Valdez intentionally threw a ball behind Red Sox infielder Trevor Story, and then denied doing so.

While Valdez comes with baggage, he's also a two-time All-Star and helped the Houston Astros win the 2022 World Series. Valdez's contract is favorable compared to what any team acquiring Skubal would have to offer him in free agency to keep the two-time AL Cy Young winner around. So while Valdez certainly isn't the better pitcher of the two, in some ways he is more valuable as a frontline starter.

Inside the Tigers trade deadline plans

The Tigers lack a clear trade deadline direction right now, which can be said about many teams around baseball, especially in the American League. The AL Wild Card race is wide open, and while the Tigers were considered a clear market seller after a brutal May, they've since bounced back and are just four games back of a playoff spot. Parting ways with Skubal, Valdez or anyone else of value right now would be front office malpractice.

Whether the Tigers buy, sell, or do a little bit of both largely depends on how they respond after the All-Star Break. A homestand against the Athletics and Phillies before then can help their case, but Detroit opens the second half on a road trip to face Anaheim and the Chicago Cubs. That'll tell us a lot about this team, and whether the clock strikes midnight on Skubal's (and perhaps Valdez's) Tigers career.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow