Tigers should have a clear objective amid Tarik Skubal trade rumors

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Tigers should have a clear objective amid Tarik Skubal trade rumors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

All eyes are going to be on the Detroit Tigers over the next month or so, with the focus not on how good the team is, but rather how far this team falls out of the postseason hunt heading into the MLB trade deadline.

If they continue to falter, there is a strong chance that Tarik Skubal, the Cy Young left-hander, will be dealt this season. In such a scenario, essentially every contender should be seeing how much it would take to acquire him at the deadline.

But, from the Tigers' perspective, how should they go about these Skubal trade rumors? Jeff Passan of ESPN outlined that the Tigers should have one clear objective amid these rumors, and it's to get back a haul worthy of trading someone as good as Skubal.

Tigers should have clear objective with Tarik Skubal trade rumors​

"Objective: Secure a franchise-altering return for a franchise-altering player," Passan writes. "Some trade deadlines narrow their focus on one player, and 2026 unquestionably will be The Skubal Deadline."

With so much attention on Skubal, it would not be a surprise if the Tigers were able to receive significant offers for the Cy Young lefty this season.

But it's not just about getting some quality offers. Passan believes the Tigers need a franchise-altering haul to move on from Skubal this season.

It's a reasonable request, as any team acquiring Skubal will likely see its World Series odds increase significantly.

MORE: Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agency

Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs fans would surely love to add Skubal to their rotation, as they're all teams with a need in the starting rotation.

Detroit should be looking to get a massive return from one of those teams, or any other that tries to trade for Skubal. The bidding war is sure to be intense, so they should be more than capable of landing a massive haul for Skubal.

At this year's deadline, that's the Tigers' sole objective: land a "franchise-altering" haul for someone who's a franchise-altering player on his own.

It's a simple plan, but for the Tigers, there's nothing more important this season than how they handle Skubal, whether they trade him or not.

More MLB news:​

• 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals
• Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 success
• Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM
• Yankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution
• Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

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