Detroit – The normally calm atmosphere of the offseason was officially torn apart when ESPN reporter Buster Olney revealed a piece of information that shocked the entire MLB: The Detroit Tigers may trade Tarik Skubal, the pitcher who is considered the heart of the rotation and a symbol of new hope for the city. And the most shocking thing wasn’t the rumor… but the source who confirmed this was “almost certain”.
“The person I spoke to yesterday said, ‘Yeah, I think they’re going to trade him.'” – Olney shared on the Just Baseball Show, and that sentence immediately caused social media to explode, Tigers fans could hardly believe their ears.
Tarik Skubal is no ordinary pitcher. He is a 2024 Cy Young candidate who has produced a dominant season with a top MLB ERA, peak velocity, and has been called “the soul of the Tigers’ future.”
But now, that future is at risk of being cut short with a single phone call.
Insider sources say the Tigers are looking for a “massive trade package” – suggesting they are considering a strategic move that could change the entire trajectory of the franchise for the next decade. A bold, daring, and controversial decision.
Within minutes of the news breaking, Tigers Twitter became the center of attention across the league. Fans left thousands of comments, many of them angry, hurt, and disbelieving:
“Skubal is the only player keeping us alive.”
“This will be the stupidest trade in Detroit history.”
“How can you trade a top-three MLB pitcher when he’s only 28?”
For Detroit – a team that has endured so many lengthy rebuilds – Skubal is the only light at the end of the tunnel. And the risk of losing him makes everyone feel like they’re back at square one.
Why would the Tigers want to trade? The reasons are controversial
Analyst sources say the Tigers are: looking to trade for a huge package of top prospects, assessing that the 2025 playoff push is not strong enough, and are “calculating for a longer competitive cycle.”
But that cold business logic can’t soothe the emotions of fans, who see in Skubal not just skill, but also confidence – something that has been very rare in Detroit in recent years.
As soon as the rumor broke out, at least 5 playoff-caliber teams were said to be “very interested”, including: Dodgers, Orioles, Braves, Mariners, Cardinals.
It all makes sense: a young, strong ace in his prime with years of control left. This is the kind of pitcher teams dream about, but never see on the market.
If the Tigers greenlight the deal, it would be the biggest deal of the 2025–2026 offseason.
So far, Tarik Skubal has remained silent. No posts. No press. No status updates.
Sources close to Skubal say he “didn’t think it would happen,” and the rumor could be “very hurtful,” given Detroit was once where he wanted to stay long-term.
A 28-year-old Cy Young-caliber ace traded in his prime? That could rewrite the entire MLB power map.
Detroit would have plenty of young talent but lose its brightest light.
Meanwhile, the team that took him would immediately become a World Series contender.
And if the deal doesn’t happen, Skubal and the Tigers will have to live with this tense rift – one that could affect the entire season.
While there’s no official confirmation, the fact that a major insider like Buster Olney is reporting this information makes it impossible to take lightly.
The Tigers are in the midst of a pivotal moment: either make history… or destroy the faith that fans have just rebuilt.
Meanwhile, MLB can only watch – with suspense, anxiety, and a sense that the real storm is coming.
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