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As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the rumor mill continues to heat up, and one of the latest ideas involving the Detroit Tigers is certainly generating attention.
A three-team blockbuster proposed by Angels beat writer Jeff Fletcher would send Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Detroit would receive either Reid Detmers or José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, along with one Dodgers prospect. The proposal was recently highlighted by Nick Radosevich of Yahoo Sports.
While it’s nothing more than a hypothetical scenario, it raises an interesting question: Would the Tigers actually consider moving the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner if they remain in the playoff race?
According to Fletcher’s proposal, the deal would look something like this:
Tigers receive:
Dodgers receive:
Angels receive:
The idea attempts to satisfy all three clubs. The Dodgers land one of baseball’s premier pitchers for another World Series run. The Angels jumpstart a long overdue rebuild with a massive prospect haul. The Tigers remain competitive while also adding long term value.
There’s no denying Detroit would receive a quality pitcher in return.
Soriano has emerged as one of the better young starters in the American League, while Detmers has flashed frontline potential throughout his career. Both pitchers remain under team control through the 2028 season, making them valuable assets.
Still, replacing Skubal is far easier on paper than it is on the field.
Skubal has developed into one of the game’s most dominant starters and has become the unquestioned ace of Detroit’s rotation. Simply acquiring another talented arm does not guarantee the Tigers would maintain the same championship ceiling.
The biggest issue with this proposal has little to do with the players involved.
Heading into Monday’s games, the Tigers are just 4.5 games behind the final American League Wild Card spot. Trading away arguably the best pitcher in baseball while still firmly in postseason contention would send a difficult message to a clubhouse that believes it can make a second-half run.
Even if Detroit is concerned about Skubal’s impending free agency, there is still value in keeping an ace for a playoff push and revisiting contract negotiations after the season.
From a purely baseball perspective, this is a creative proposal.
Adding a controllable starter such as Soriano or Detmers while also acquiring a Dodgers prospect would soften the blow of losing Skubal. But “softening the blow” isn’t the same as replacing one of the most valuable pitchers in the sport.
Unless the Tigers completely fall out of contention before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, it’s difficult to envision president of baseball operations Scott Harris signing off on a deal that sends Skubal elsewhere.
For now, this proposal is an entertaining thought experiment, but it feels far more realistic for the Dodgers and Angels than it does for a Tigers team still chasing a postseason berth.
Continue reading...
A three-team blockbuster proposed by Angels beat writer Jeff Fletcher would send Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Detroit would receive either Reid Detmers or José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, along with one Dodgers prospect. The proposal was recently highlighted by Nick Radosevich of Yahoo Sports.
While it’s nothing more than a hypothetical scenario, it raises an interesting question: Would the Tigers actually consider moving the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner if they remain in the playoff race?
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The Proposed Trade
According to Fletcher’s proposal, the deal would look something like this:
Tigers receive:
- Reid Detmers or José Soriano
- One Dodgers prospect
Dodgers receive:
- Tarik Skubal
Angels receive:
- Three or four top Dodgers prospects, including names such as Josue De Paula and Mike Sirota
The idea attempts to satisfy all three clubs. The Dodgers land one of baseball’s premier pitchers for another World Series run. The Angels jumpstart a long overdue rebuild with a massive prospect haul. The Tigers remain competitive while also adding long term value.
Does It Make Sense for Detroit?
There’s no denying Detroit would receive a quality pitcher in return.
Soriano has emerged as one of the better young starters in the American League, while Detmers has flashed frontline potential throughout his career. Both pitchers remain under team control through the 2028 season, making them valuable assets.
Still, replacing Skubal is far easier on paper than it is on the field.
Skubal has developed into one of the game’s most dominant starters and has become the unquestioned ace of Detroit’s rotation. Simply acquiring another talented arm does not guarantee the Tigers would maintain the same championship ceiling.
The Tigers Are Still in the Fight
The biggest issue with this proposal has little to do with the players involved.
Heading into Monday’s games, the Tigers are just 4.5 games behind the final American League Wild Card spot. Trading away arguably the best pitcher in baseball while still firmly in postseason contention would send a difficult message to a clubhouse that believes it can make a second-half run.
Even if Detroit is concerned about Skubal’s impending free agency, there is still value in keeping an ace for a playoff push and revisiting contract negotiations after the season.
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Our Take
From a purely baseball perspective, this is a creative proposal.
Adding a controllable starter such as Soriano or Detmers while also acquiring a Dodgers prospect would soften the blow of losing Skubal. But “softening the blow” isn’t the same as replacing one of the most valuable pitchers in the sport.
Unless the Tigers completely fall out of contention before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, it’s difficult to envision president of baseball operations Scott Harris signing off on a deal that sends Skubal elsewhere.
For now, this proposal is an entertaining thought experiment, but it feels far more realistic for the Dodgers and Angels than it does for a Tigers team still chasing a postseason berth.
Continue reading...
