Mock Trade That Lands the Baltimore Orioles Their Ace

There's no debating that there has been some tension between Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers front office over Skubal's arbitration number.

Although Detroit seems keen on retaining Skubal, I believe that this "tension" could open the door for a contending team to swoop in and offer an unresistible package for the back-to-back American League Cy Young award winner. 

Now, Skubal won't come cheap for any club. The New York Yankees attempted to acquire the ace, but failed to make any progress as Detroit's asking price is greater than teams are comfortable with.

Detroit asked for three of New York's best young talents in Ben Rice, Cam Schlittler and George Lombard Jr. at minimum for Tarik Skubal. 

New York refused to part ways with said players, and trade talks dispersed from there. 

New York isn't in a position where they NEED a starter of Skubal's caliber to compete. However, the Baltimore Orioles do. 

Baltimore has been searching for that ace since Corbin Burnes departed in the 2024 offseason to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and with the indistinct market of Framber Valdez, Baltimore could pivot to something grander -- Tarik Skubal. 

For starters, Baltimore would have to part ways with someone of significant value in order for trade negotiations to even pick up steam. 

Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers and Trevor Rogers are amongst players that Baltimore would have to dangle in talks for Skubal. 

Now that we have the headliners out the way, let's create the framework for a trade. 

I believe the best player on our list of tradable Orioles is third baseman Jordan Westburg. Although he is a fan favorite in Baltimore, parting ways with him to acquire Skubal could be worth it. Westburg is as poised of a hitter as you'll see, but his battles with injury have limited his production throughout his young career. Nonetheless, Westburg's tremendous defense on the hot corner paired with his sharp hitting ability would give Detroit their third baseman of the future. 

Baltimore would also have to part ways to their second, third and sixth ranked prospects in outfielder Dylan Beavers, starting pitcher Trey Gibson and outfielder Nate George. 

Beavers showcased his talents when he got called up in mid August of last season, and would immediately slot into Detroit's outfield with Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter. Beavers is elite at getting on base, and his 19% walk rate at the MLB level proves that. 

Gibson would be one of Detroit's best young arms, and at 23 years-old, he has all the upside in the world. His 3.99 ERA across all minor league levels displays his adaptability and upside as a reliable starting pitcher for any big league rotation. Gibson is also projected to make his MLB debut this upcoming season, thus providing Detroit with some starting pitcher insurance. 

Lastly, outfielder Nate George tops off this mock trade. George has made a name for himself in the minor leagues, as his .896 OPS in Single-A impressed many. George possesses a knack for making contact with the ball, while being an ELITE defender in the outfield. The 19 year-old had a stellar .413 OBP last season, displaying his ability to get on base. Not to mention the fact that George is a serious threat on the base paths, as he stole 50 bases in 87 games.  

Baltimore would have to part ways with a lot of their favorite talents, but in order to get a pitcher of Skubal's caliber, you have to overpay. 

It's quite clear that Detroit has zero intensions to trade Skubal, as they would still like to compete for the AL Central pennant. However, if an offer like this appeared on Detroit's General Manger Jeff Greenberg's table, would he say no?