Tigers Star Tarik Skubal Addresses Growing Trade Speculation
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal made his first start on Saturday since April 29. The Two-time Cy Young Award winner was out for just under two months while recovering from surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow.
He didn't play up to his usual standards, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, one walk and one home run. The Tigers wound up losing to the Cleveland Guardians 3-1.
The 29-year-old has the opportunity to bounce back with a start on Friday against the Chicago White Sox. However, a dominant start still won't stop the speculation surrounding Skubal.
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that Skubal has an 85% chance of being moved before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. However, he isn't letting the outside noise affect him. When speaking to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, Skubal clarified that his focus is on the field.
"I don't think about it a lot," Skubal said. "I try not to let that consume me because I need to worry about what I'm doing today. ... But there's also the reality part to it. Everybody, the whole room, needs to focus on winning tonight's game, winning a series, winning the next series and just let it snowball."
Barring a major turnaround, though, the Tigers are expected to be sellers at the deadline. They currently sit at 30-44, 9.5 games back from the division lead and 6.5 back from a wild-card spot.
He is well aware that the team's performance is one of the leading causes for trade speculation, also telling McCosky, "The reality is we need to play better baseball or else come the deadline, you give the front office an option to reassess where this team is."
With less than two months until the trade deadline, Skubal's future remains in question.
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 9:57 AM.