Tigers Could Be Hoping for a Hometown Discount From Tarik Skubal

Just when you thought the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal conversations were all but over after the Tigers traded the two-time Cy Young Award winner to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the middle of last season, think again. The two sides could be back in the conversation, but things may not be as simple as Tigers fans would hope.

Per ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel, the usual suspects are expected to be at the front of the line for Skubal's services.

“As covered in that panel piece, the usual suspects are believed to be at the front of the line for Skubal: The Dodgers and Mets are the primary bidders, the Tigers are monitoring for a discount, the Yankees are thinking about it (and then trading from their pitching stockpile if they land Skubal), and the Angels, White Sox, and Padres are the sleepers with ownership changes behind the interest.”

So, perhaps the Tigers won't be true contenders for a Tarik Skubal return to Detroit this year, despite Skubal himself expressing hope that the Tigers would be part of the conversation.

Instead, it appears Detroit will be monitoring the situation from the outside, potentially waiting for an opportunity to make a move. However, the bigger hope may be that Skubal and his agent are willing to take less money to return to a team that missed the playoffs last season but currently sits seventh in the way-too-early MLB power rankings, with a youth movement ready to take the next step.

Skubal was drafted by the Tigers and worked his way through the organization, finding his rhythm in 2023 before putting together back-to-back Cy Young Award-winning seasons in 2024 and 2025. He was ultimately traded away at last year's trade deadline, ending his time in Detroit.

Skubal and the Dodgers eventually saw their season end in the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, who went on to win the World Series.

Now, Skubal is headed for free agency, and as McDaniel noted, the usual suspects are ready to make their moves. The Dodgers and Mets appear to be the primary bidders. Both organizations have shown a willingness to spend enormous amounts of money, even if it means paying for today's championship aspirations well into the future.

The three teams that could provide surprises in the Skubal sweepstakes are the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres and American League Central rival Chicago White Sox.

Take a moment to reread that last team.

It would be one of the worst possible outcomes for Detroit in a long time if Skubal and the Chicago White Sox found themselves working out a deal.

The White Sox just won the AL Central in 2026 and have a team that appears ready to compete for the next several years. Adding Skubal to that rotation would be detrimental to the Tigers, especially considering how frequently the two division rivals face each other throughout the season. It would also give Chicago a significant advantage every time Skubal takes the mound.

At this point, it doesn't look as though the Tigers and Skubal will rekindle their partnership. However, Tigers fans should keep an eye on the situation, particularly if the White Sox emerge as a legitimate surprise contender.

Detroit may be hoping for a hometown discount, but Chicago could be waiting to make a move that Tigers fans would absolutely hate to see.