Will Tarik Skubal end up getting traded this summer?
If the Detroit Tigers keep winning, then that certainly will not happen.
But if the Tigers take a turn for the worse, then maybe the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner could be out there for the taking. One team that reportedly wants him is the Tampa Bay Rays, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
"The Rays, who suddenly are seeing that the AL is wide open for the taking, plan to be aggressive buyers at the deadline," Nightengale wrote. "They not only have their eyes on Skubal, but they have shown interest in seeing whether the Diamondbacks would move second baseman Ketel Marte and Giants All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez as a backup plan."
The Rays are 56-38 on the season right now and have been a shocking contender so far this season. When it comes to Skubal, he doesn't have money tied to him beyond the 2026 season. He's going to be a free agent after the campaign. That's why the Rays make sense. If they can land him this summer, they would be the favorites in the American League by far. Then, they wouldn't negatively impact their payroll for the long term.
It certainly would be intriguing, to say the least.