Should The Tigers Trade Skubal? Here's What A Deal Could Look Like

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers could move their top starting pitcher soon, if the price is right.

Tigers starting pitcher, Tarik Skubal, is one of the hottest names rumored to be circulating around next week's trade deadline (non-waiver) on July 31. The 6-foot, 3-inch power lefty has posted an impressive 2.34 era with 146 strikeouts through 20 starts for the Tigers this year.

His dominate command of the strike zone makes him an enticing top of the rotation guy for multiple contending teams, such as the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. Moreover, Skubal would be under team control for next year and arbitration eligible the 2025-26 year, before hitting free agency.

Both the Dodgers and Orioles are in desperate need of a starting pitcher and acquiring Skubal would instantly make them World Series favorites. Here's what a Skubal deal could look like.

For the Tigers to move Skubal to the Orioles, any trade package would almost certainly have to be centered around shortstop Jackson Holliday, the Orioles (and baseball's) top prospect. Many baseball scouts tout Holliday as a can't miss prospect and future all-star.

Other names the Orioles could part ways with include power hitting third baseman Coby Mayo and outfielder Dylan Beavers, whom scouts have touted as a five-tool player. The Tigers desperately need hitting and infielders, such as Holliday and Mayo could become a future core of players around current Tiger outfielder Riley Greene.

Any Skubal deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers would likely center around catcher Dalton Rushing, who is listed as the Dodger's top prospect and a top 50 baseball prospect overall. Outfielder Josue De Paula could also be part of that deal, or an entirely separate package centered around De Paula could be possible.

Of course, the Tigers, who have been playing well lately and are not entirely out of playoff contention (six games back in the Wild Card as of Wednesday), could decide to keep Skubal as a cornerstone piece, though that would require the Tigers to sign him long-term.

It's unclear if there have been any talks about a long-term extension. It's also worth noting Skubal hasn't indicated that he'd like to stay with the Tigers.

A future Tigers rotation centered around Skubal, Mize, Olsen and Jackson Jobe (who may get called up later this year) could be scary. But the Tigers still need to fill the holes in their lineup and the free agent class doesn't look too promising, unless the Tigers are prepared to offer big money someone like Alex Bregman. Some of the better Tigers prospects, such as outfielder Max Clark are still a few years away.

Tigers General Manager Scott Harris will have to determine whether the price is right to trade Skubal, or decide how to build a core of hitters around him if the Tigers don't trade him. A task that will either way determine the future of this organization.