The Philadelphia Phillies definitely need to make some changes this offseason after yet another discouraging playoff exit, and while there is no shame in losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it's tough to keep bowing out in October with a top-five payroll in baseball.

I guess it could be worse: the Phillies could be the New York Mets, but still, Philadelphia's lack of success over the last decade-and-a-half (aside from one lone World Series appearance in 2022) has been telling.

As a result, Philadelphia could try and swing big this winter, and with Ranger Suarez set to hit free agency and Zack Wheeler still recovering from a blood clot, the Phillies could aim to make a major move in their starting rotation.

With Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal potentially on the trade block, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly has listed Philadelphia as a potential landing spot for the superstar. However, Kelly questions whether or not the Phillies would pay the cost that would likely be required to land Skubal.

"The Phillies would almost certainly need to include Andrew Painter, the organization's No. 1 prospect, in a deal to land Skubal," Kelly wrote. "Not only was Painter off the table in trade talks this summer, but even prior to that when the Phillies tried to acquire Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. That probably won't change, especially if the Phillies couldn't work out an extension with Skubal on the way in the door."

Kelly notes that Philadelphia also has some other prospects in addition to Painter to include in a potential trade package for Skubal, but the fact that Skubal's contract expires at the end of 2026 will likely be a major hurdle in negotiations.

It's also important to remember that Skubal is a Boras client, and we don't have to look any further than Juan Soto to see how Boras clients with one year remaining on their contracts could leave a team in a lurch.

Skubal is so good, though, that it would strongly behoove the Phillies to take the risk. The 29-year-old led the American League in ERA (2.21) for the second straight year, also registering a minuscule .0891 WHIP while boasting a 7.30 K/BB ratio.

Philadelphia's rotation could certainly use a boost given the current circumstances, and it's hard not to see Skubal being the answer.

Of course, this is assuming the Tigers even move Skubal, which is fairly dubious at this point.