Why Yankees might not benefit from Tigers' Tarik Skubal becoming available for trade

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May 21, 2026 - 19:48

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Why Yankees might not benefit from Tigers' Tarik Skubal becoming available for trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees, after their 30-20 start to the season, are very likely to wind up as buyers at the MLB trade deadline.

On the other hand, the 20-30 Detroit Tigers, if they can't turn things around in the coming months, might wind up as sellers by the August 3rd trade deadline. If that happens, Tarik Skubal would be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, with the Yankees a suitor.

However, as MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported over the offseason, fans might have to ignore trade rumors, as the Yankees seemingly don't have the right trade chips to win a deal with the Tigers.

Yankees likely won't have a chance to trade for Tarik Skubal

"Also seemingly out of reach is Tarik Skubal -- the Yanks checked in on the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award-winning left-hander, but they were told by the Tigers that they don't have the necessary trade chips," Hoch reported.

The Tigers were entertaining trade calls on Skubal this offseason, and didn't end up trading him, instead doubling down on their roster and trying to win it all this year.

But, with the season unraveling, it might open the door to a Skubal trade this season. Every World Series contender should be trying to pursue Skubal if he is available.

The Yankees are no different, even if they have a fully healthy rotation. Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Ryan Weathers, and Will Warren make up a strong rotation, but the Yankees could still use someone like Skubal.

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With how the Yankees are seemingly always connected to every top-tier trade candidate, Skubal would be no different. However, it doesn't appear that the Yankees will have a good chance at a trade.

Unless the Tigers change their asking price and are amenable to the package the Yankees could put together, it looks more likely that some other club would be able to bring Skubal in if Detroit trades him this season.

As much as Yankees fans would love for Brian Cashman to swing a blockbuster deal for Skubal, Hoch's report from the offseason makes such a deal a lot less likely.