Detroit is *still* refusing to trade their ace Tarik Skubal, even with the national baseball media constantly screaming about it. And get this: the whole conversation, the endless "will they or won't they" drama, really kicked off last October when our very own Seattle Mariners eliminated the Tigers from the ALDS. Yeah, you heard that right. Our guys, making waves even in other teams' front office decisions.
The Media Wants a Trade, Detroit Says "Nah"
It's no shocker that everyone outside of Detroit wants Skubal on the move. He’s a back-to-back AL Cy Young winner! When you've got a talent like that on a team that sometimes feels like a small market, the big spenders' media machines start churning out those "pluck the talent" storylines. From the minute our Mariners sent the Tigers packing, a Skubal trade became the juiciest offseason gossip. Everyone was making hay about it, thinking a massive package of prospects including a major league ready starter was on the table. But here's the kicker: the Tigers front office straight up passed on even considering a trade last offseason. No real interest then, and honestly, no real interest now, even months later. Neither side even showed interest in an extension offer.The Harris Era: No Big Moves, Big Bets
So, why the stubbornness? It boils down to Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg, the Tigers' decision makers. They've already placed their bet on this season by keeping Skubal around. And honestly, this front office just isn't big on trades. You look at the Harris era, waiver claims excluded, and they're practically at the bottom of the league in trade volume. They're not out there aggressively trying to upgrade the roster with big offseason moves, and their deadline track record hasn't been stellar either. The biggest trade they've made under Harris? Dealing a rental in Jack Flaherty back at the 2024 deadline. Every other move, buying or selling, has been small potatoes. A Skubal trade, for a back-to-back Cy Young winner, exists on a whole different level of importance and scrutiny, and this front office just doesn't seem to operate like that.What's Next for Skubal and the Tigers?
The Tigers had a catastrophic month of May, but they're now creeping back into the postseason chase. Still, the national narrative is that they *have* to trade him, even if they snag a wild card spot, right? Not so fast. The Tigers' front office has had plenty of opportunity to explore a Skubal trade for a long while now. And the word is, they're not going to easily change their minds unless they really struggle coming out of the All-Star break. So, as we head deeper into July, the focus for Detroit is all on how they perform post-break. If they can keep battling in that postseason chase, Skubal stays put. If they fall apart, maybe, just maybe, things get interesting. But for now, they're sticking to their guns, all thanks to a decision they made after *our* Mariners knocked them out last fall.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.