Overview
- On Wednesday, MLB insider Jon Heyman estimated about a 90 percent chance Tarik Skubal is traded before the Aug. 3 trade deadline if he returns to form.
- Skubal has progressed from elbow arthroscopy to a 64-pitch, four-inning simulated game and could begin a rehab assignment as soon as mid-June, making medical clearance the key gating factor.
- A concentrated group of deep-pocket contenders — notably the Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays and Padres — are viewed as likely finalists because they can both afford the remaining salary and offer top prospects.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Los Angeles has the prospect capital to pursue Skubal, and analysts say Detroit could boost return by subsidizing roughly $9 million of the remaining salary to widen the buyer pool.
- Detroit’s recent sweep of Tampa Bay has led the club to tell teams it is not selling for now, so the final decision will hinge on Skubal’s health and the Tigers’ standing in the weeks before the August deadline.