Tarik Skubal remains one of baseball’s elite pitchers — a left‑handed ace, fresh off two dominant seasons, still under control for one more year, and a potential game‑changer for any contender. If the Detroit Tigers decide to trade him (for a mix of youth, control, and future upside), here are three landing spots that make sense — plus real player names that could be involved in a trade in late 2025 / early 2026.
Potential Landing Spots for Tarik Skubal If He’s Traded
New York Mets —New Ace in the Big Apple
Why It Makes Sense
The Mets are operating in a win-now window and lack a true, durable No. 1 starter who can match up with the National League’s elite arms. Skubal, a power lefty with two straight Cy Young Awards under his belt, immediately becomes the ace they’ve been searching for. His strike-throwing, swing-and-miss profile plays perfectly at Citi Field, and his ability to dominate right-handed hitters gives New York exactly the kind of frontline presence they’ve been missing since the prime Jacob deGrom years. With Skubal entering his final year of club control, the Mets have both the motivation and financial flexibility to take a big swing on an arm who can shift the balance of the National League East race.
Trade Package for Skubal
• Jett Williams
, an elite up-the-middle athlete and top-tier position-player prospect who gives Detroit a potential cornerstone at shortstop or center field.
• Brandon Sproat
, a high-octane right-hander with mid-rotation upside and fast-track potential.
• Jonah Tong
, a rising pitching prospect with strikeout stuff who could anchor the next wave of the Tigers’ rotation.
Why That Works
The Mets acquire a legitimate ace to front their rotation right now—someone who can stabilize their pitching staff and elevate their postseason ceiling. Detroit, recognizing the value of trading Tarik Skubal at peak leverage, replenishes its system with a premium position-player prospect and two high-end arms who fit the franchise’s long-term timeline. The Mets pay a steep but appropriate price for an ace entering his final year of control, while the Tigers convert one elite season of Skubal into a potential core for their next competitive window. The risk-reward calculus aligns cleanly for both sides, making it one of the rare blockbuster trades that fit each team’s current trajectory.
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Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris joins #MLBTonight to talk Tarik Skubal and more from the #WinterMeetings .
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New York Yankees — Ace Upgrade for a Team in Win-Now Mode
Why It Makes Sense
The Yankees have the payroll flexibility and a competitive window where a frontline starter could make a big difference. A strikeout‑heavy lefty like Skubal fits Yankee Stadium’s profile well and gives them a rotation ace capable of supporting October runs.
Trade Package for Skubal
- A mid‑tier but MLB‑ready pitching prospect from the Yankees’ system (for example, one of their recent draft or minor‑league arms).
- A younger controllable arm or position‑player prospect (not necessarily elite, but with upside) — think of someone from their 2025–26 minor‑league pool rather than top-tier untouchables, possibly young OF bat Jasson Dominguez .
Why That Works
The Yankees acquire a frontline starter for now; Detroit regains controllable young talent, without the Yankees having to part with their top untouchable stars. The risk‑reward balance works for both sides under current roster realities and system depth constraints.
Atlanta Braves — A Rebuilding‑to-Contender Franchise
Why It Makes Sense
The Braves have a deep, cost‑controlled farm system with several high-upside arms and position-player prospects. They are always in win-now mode, and adding a left‑handed ace like Skubal would give their rotation the kind of edge that could carry them deep in the playoffs.
Trade Package for Skubal
- AJ Smith-Shawver — right‑handed pitching prospect from Atlanta’s 2025 top‑10 list.
- Cam Caminiti — high-upside left‑handed pitching prospect, near the top of Atlanta’s system
- Drake Baldwin — a young catcher/position‑player who could eventually provide value at the big‑league level.
Why That Works
Skubal gives the Braves an immediate ace to anchor the rotation; in return, Detroit (or his current team) acquires multiple controllable, high-upside pieces — two arms (righty and lefty) and a bat/position prospect — offering both depth and future upside.
The Last Word
Using actual 2025 farm‑system names (like Smith‑Shawver, Caminiti, and Baldwin), the trade scenarios above become much more believable. Tarik Skubal’s value is elite, and several contending clubs — especially those with deep, controllable systems — have both the motivation and the roster structure to consider giving up a major return to trade for him.
Main Photo Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post MLB’s Most Powerful Trade Candidate: Where Skubal Could Land appeared first on Last Word On Baseball .