The Chicago Cubs are in desperate need of pitching, and they seem fairly certain to add a significant arm before the MLB trade deadline.
Could it be Detroit Tigers superstar Tarik Skubal?
Christopher Kline of FanSided thinks it’s a possibility, and he has devised an intriguing trade package that could potentially get the Tigers to bite.
At the center of the proposal is Ben Brown, the 26-year-old right-hander who was enjoying a breakout campaign before a neck injury sidelined him.
Brown is expected to return for the stretch run and would give Detroit an immediately useful arm still under team control.
Joining him would be Jaxon Wiggins, Chicago’s top-ranked pitching prospect at age 24. Wiggins has the upside to contribute to the Tigers’ rotation as soon as 2027 and represents the kind of high-ceiling, near-ready talent that Harris values as he looks to keep Detroit competitive in the years ahead.
The third piece in Kline’s suggested framework is Jefferson Rojas, a 22-year-old third baseman whose advanced hitting approach has already produced an .805 OPS at the Double-A level this season.
Rojas possesses the kind of baseball intelligence that could accelerate his development, potentially allowing him to help solidify the Tigers’ infield alongside prospects like Kevin McGonigle sooner rather than later.
Together, these three players offer Detroit a blend of major-league-ready pitching and long-term positional upside that aligns with the organization’s stated preference for controllable talent capable of contributing both now and in the future.
For the Cubs, acquiring Skubal would instantly elevate a rotation that currently lacks a true ace and position the club more firmly among the National League’s top contenders.
The cost would be significant, requiring the surrender of a promising young starter, a top pitching prospect, and a high-upside position player. Yet the potential reward—pairing Skubal with Chicago’s potent lineup for a postseason push—makes the risk worthwhile in Kline’s view.
As the deadline approaches, this kind of framework illustrates both the steep asking price for an elite rental like Skubal and the genuine opportunity the Cubs have to reshape their pitching staff at a critical moment in the season.
