Tarik Skubal could completely change the MLB trade deadline
Nearly two months away, but the talk is there.
Tarik Skubal could completely change the MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The 2026 MLB trade deadline already had intrigue.
Then Buster Olney raised the possibility that Tarik Skubal could become the biggest name available on the market. According to Olney’s latest ESPN reporting, rival executives are closely watching how the Tigers handle Skubal as Detroit spirals through an injury-riddled season. What once looked like a contending year has quickly shifted into uncertainty, especially after the Tigers fell near the bottom of the American League standings.
That changes everything. If Skubal returns healthy from his NanoNeedle Scope procedure and looks anything close to his Cy Young-caliber self, he instantly becomes the kind of pitcher who can alter the World Series race overnight. Front offices do not often get the chance to acquire a true postseason ace in July.
This year, they just might. The fascinating part is that Olney notes this is not simply about prospects. Skubal’s remaining salary matters too, with roughly $11 million still owed over the final two months.