The New York Yankees missed the World Series for the second straight year in 2025, prompting speculation about bold offseason moves to return to championship contention.
One potential target is Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal, whose contract talks with the Tigers have reportedly hit a snag. With Skubal set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, Detroit may look to trade him to maximize his value if an extension seems unlikely.
On Thursday, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported that the Tigers are “likely” to discuss trading Skubal at the winter meetings due to the stalled negotiations.
Bowden highlighted the Yankees as one of the teams that would “obviously” be interested in acquiring the star pitcher.
The Yankees already boast a strong rotation featuring Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler, and Luis Gil. However, Skubal, widely regarded as one of baseball’s elite pitchers, could elevate their staff to new heights.
To secure him, the Yankees might need to include their promising young pitcher, Schlittler, in a trade package. Skubal, the 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner, earned All-Star honors in 2025 and posted the AL’s best ERA, positioning him as a frontrunner for another Cy Young.
Pairing him with Cole, Fried, and Rodón could make the Yankees the team to beat in the AL in 2026.However, signing Skubal long-term could be costly. Bowden estimates Skubal could command a contract exceeding $400 million.
The Yankees would need to navigate these financial hurdles carefully to avoid a repeat of their experience with Juan Soto, whom they acquired via trade but lost to the New York Mets in a free-agency bidding war.
During the 2025 MLB season with the Tigers, Skubal made 31 total starts. He compiled a 13-6 record to go along with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP, a 7.3 K/BB ratio, and 195.1 innings pitched.
Adding the 28-year-old superstar ace would be the biggest splash that the Yankees could make this offseason. It will be interesting to see if Detroit ends up deciding to move him.
