Tigers are really making it sound like they're preparing for life after Tarik Skubal

The Detroit Tigers, led by president of baseball operations Scott Harris, went into the trade deadline positioned to take a big swing thanks to a superb start to the season and a minor league system so flush it ranks among the very best in the league.

Instead, they took a more muted approach, opting to make moves around the margins to rehabilitate struggling players with past track records over mortgaging their future for short-term gain.

That shouldn't have been a surprise, as Harris had gone on record in the deadline lead-up, making it clear the club would be taking a pragmatic approach. Harris didn't want to give up potential future cornerstones in exchange for the short-term gain of star players. You can quibble with that strategy, but if it results in some sort of dynastic run, Harris will be vindicated.

But what about the homegrown stars whom the Tigers have already drafted and developed? Will those cornerstone pieces be around for the long haul under Harris, or will "pragmatism" get the better of him here? The first real test case, extending Tarik Skubal, is nearly upon us, and Harris's recent comments indicated that the same tepid strategy might be in play here.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris's recent comments really seem like the team is preparing for life without ace Tarik Skubal

"I think this idea of a window is an illusion," Harris said before praising the talent currently on the roster and calling out Skubal by name. He'd then go on to say that there's a lot of talented players coming up through the minor league system and that he's not looking at this as a window, but rather a mandate to try to get to the postseason every single year — effectively not shorting the present but also not mortgaging the future.

Skubal has effectively been the best pitcher in baseball not named Paul Skenes, but comments like that seem to indicate that Harris is more than comfortable to let him walk once his contract is up after the 2026 season.

It appears as if he'd like to take a page out of the Tampa Bay Rays' playbook, consistently shuffling talent in from a robust minor league system, while letting expensive veterans find opportunities elsewhere by the end of their team control. The Rays may perennially be in the playoff conversation, but they have zero rings to show for their efforts.

Detroit might not be on the same financial footing as the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets, but this isn't a club completely devoid of resources like Tampa. The Tigers have gone into the deep end of the pool before, mostly throwing money at external free agents like the $140 million for Javy Baez back in the winter of 2021.

One can argue that overspending is ultimately what cost Harris's predecessor, Al Avila, his job, but there's more nuance to the story. Avila chose to spend lavishly on the wrong players, bringing in external talents who were good, but not elite. That's not the case with Skubal, who the Tigers know intimately after drafting him in the ninth round in 2018 and nurturing his talents through their minor league system.

More importantly, Skubal isn't a second-tier player, but instead is one of the game's elite. Harris may be trying to build a dynasty, and one can argue that it is much easier with a top-tier starter anchoring your rotation for years to come. Harris is trying to be pragmatic by balancing present and future concerns, but letting Skubal walk would be anything but, and would ensure that the club comes up short relative to its stated goals, both in the present and the future.