Overview
- Skubal returned to the Tigers’ rotation and produced an effective start on Friday, striking out eight and showing he has recovered from a recent elbow procedure.
- Major league insiders say Skubal is the top deadline asset and many expect him to be traded before the August 3 deadline, with Ken Rosenthal explicitly forecasting a move.
- Detroit’s reported asking price is clear: controllable pitchers plus athletic, near‑big‑league‑ready position players rather than long‑term salary relief.
- Reports name multiple suitors — including the Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, Padres, Phillies, Rays and Brewers — with the Yankees linked to prospects George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange and Bob Nightengale saying the Braves might need to give two top‑10 prospects.
- Skubal is a one‑year rental who is represented by Scott Boras so teams weigh short‑term impact against high prospect cost and Detroit’s recent June winning stretch could still influence whether the Tigers sell.