Tigers could ruin Dodgers' Tarik Skubal chase with this huge haul from Yankees

Tarik Skubal's marathon appearances at Michigan sporting events this past weekend told Tigers fans what we already know: the guy loves Detroit, and Detroit loves him.

Whether or not it was a publicity stunt or a nudge for Chris Ilitch, Skubal's future still isn't assured. Trade rumors have died down since the Winter Meetings, but until they either extend him or officially lose him to free agency next offseason, a trade remains a possibility.

The Dodgers are still the one team most likely to trade for him. They have the money, the prospect capital and don't care about overcrowding their rotation if it gets them the best pitcher in baseball. Even if they don't trade for him, they'll probably be first in line to give him a huge contract offer next year.

But Skubal to the Dodgers is perhaps the most excruciating outcome for Tigers fans, and for the rest of baseball at large, for that matter. If Detroit has to let go of him, let it be to anyone other than LA. Even the Yankees would be easier to swallow.

New York doesn't have the same juice as LA in terms of prospects, but if Scott Harris could trick them into giving the Tigers a handful of extremely controllable, immediate impact players for just one season of Skubal? We say bleed 'em dry.

This trade package could get a Tarik Skubal-Yankees trade done if the Tigers do the unthinkable

Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice have a combined 11 years of team control, and throwing Spencer Jones, the Yankees' No. 4 prospect, into the mix brings the total up to almost two decades. Schlittler was called up in early July and pitched 14 starts during the regular season, the last of which was a scoreless seven-inning showing against the Orioles. He went on to pitch eight scoreless against the Red Sox in the Wild Card with 12 strikeouts.

Rice hit .255 with an .836 OPS (.499 slugging) in 2025 and split his time between catcher and first base but still hasn't earned a full-time starting role anywhere, even though he hit like he deserved one. The Tigers have those positions mostly locked down, but Jake Rogers' backup role may already be in danger; Detroit re-signed Tómas Nido to a minor league deal with incentives if he comes up to the majors. Lefty Rice and righty Spencer Torkelson could make a nice platoon at first when Rice isn't behind the dish. Plus, he can DH.

Jones is 24, stuck in Triple-A, and the Yankees don't seem to have much of a plan for him, but he hit .274 with a .897 OPS over 67 games in Scranton this year, and he would project as a better outfield defender than Kerry Carpenter.

Again, no one wants Skubal to leave, but if the worst thing has to happen, Tigers fans could end up making their peace with this kind of return.