It's not officially official, but it sounds like Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is going to be dealt by the end of the 2026 MLB trade deadline. And that makes all the sense in the world for everyone -- the Tigers don't look like World Series contenders and they're not going to give the left-hander the kind of massive long-term contract he's earned.
So who could land the two-time Cy Young winner who currently sports a 2.79 ERA with 116 Ks in 96.2 innings? That's the question we all want to know the answer to as the bidding heats up. Let's run through some names of teams who would love to add Skubal and instantly change their fortunes with a top starting pitcher:
Los Angeles Dodgers
You could roll your eyes at the fact that the Dodgers are reportedly in yet again
on a big name, but it makes sense -- Shohei Ohtani may not pitch for a while and their rotation isn't the strongest at the moment. Plus, they've got a ton of big-name prospects to deal to the Tigers.
Milwaukee Brewers
Another team with a lot of intriguing prospects and young pitching talent... but there's risk there if the Brew Crew doesn't win a World Series with Skubal and he leaves in free agency.
Chicago Cubs
Feels like they've got a playoff spot on lock, so getting Skubal would be helpful for the postseason.
Atlanta Braves
Chris Sale is awesome, but the Braves could use another big-name starter.
Tampa Bay Rays
Yes, them! When you're a franchise like the Rays that needs to go for it when the opportunity is there, you might push for Skubal and hope to win a title before he leaves for a big contract. This would be a fun destination.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Tarik Skubal landing spots: 5 teams who get Tigers ace as trade rumors swirl
