Breaking:Why the Detroit Tigers are likely to hold onto ace Tarik Skubal, though they may regretfully consider trading Jack Flaherty.
The most coveted pitcher on the market may not be available after all due to changing team priorities.
Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles were interested in acquiring Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before the trade deadline. Verducci’s source indicated that while Skubal was a prime target, the Tigers were unlikely to move him, though they acknowledged that “everything has a price.”
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez has now cast further doubt on the possibility of a Skubal trade. Gonzalez reports that it seems increasingly unlikely Skubal will be traded before the July 30 deadline. Instead, the Tigers are more likely to consider dealing starting pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Skubal, 27, is fresh off his first career All-Star appearance and is a strong candidate for the AL Cy Young award with a 10-3 record, 2.41 ERA, 0.879 WHIP, 140 strikeouts, and 4.5 WAR. Given that Skubal is under team control through 2026, the Tigers have less incentive to trade him immediately.
On the other hand, Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers this offseason, is set to become a free agent. Flaherty currently has a 7-5 record with a 3.13 ERA, 0.964 WHIP, 137 strikeouts, and a 2.4 WAR through 17 starts. Given his pending free agency and past performance fluctuations, he is considered more expendable.
With the Tigers currently 6.0 games out of the third and final AL Wild Card spot and their playoff chances being slim, the front office is likely reevaluating their strategy. FanGraphs gives the Tigers just a 1.2% chance of winning the AL Central and a 9.1% chance of making the playoffs. As a result, while Skubal is seen as a key part of the team’s future, Flaherty may be more likely to be traded if the team opts to make moves before the deadline.
