4 Blockbuster Mock Trades for Tarik Skubal

Rays Receive: LHP Tarik Skubal

The Tampa Bay Rays have established themselves as one of, if not the best, teams in the American League. They are 63-44 to this point, leading the Yankees by 2.5 games in the AL East.

Offensively, they have been terrific. As a group, they own a 105 wRC+, the sixth-highest mark in MLB. To go with that, they have one of baseball’s best starting rotations. They have four starters with at least 70 innings pitched this season and an ERA below 3.40.

They have positioned themselves to be aggressive buyers at the deadline. With few glaring holes on the roster, there isn’t much to fix. Instead, they could find themselves going all in and building a roster that enters October as the favorite to come out of the American League.

Making a blockbuster deal with the Detroit Tigers for Tarik Skubal is certainly on the table. He is, without a doubt, the best starter who could be available at the deadline.

Pairing him with a rotation that already features Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan, Nick Martinez, and Griffin Jax would be a daunting challenge for opposing teams, especially in the postseason. Few, if any, clubs could rival that starting group in a playoff series.

This is a move that would solidify Tampa Bay as a World Series contender, if not the favorite. However, trading for a pitcher like Skubal won’t come cheap, even if he is a rental. Fortunately for the Rays, they have a deep farm system with the prospect capital to pull off a move like this.

Tigers Receive: INF Cooper Flemming (JB No. 68), RHP Ty Johnson, OF Austin Overn

Headlining the return in this deal is infield prospect Cooper Flemming. At just 19 years old, he has made a strong impression through his first few months of professional baseball.

Through 86 games in Single-A, he’s slashing .293/.386/.444 with eight home runs and 12 stolen bases. He uses simple mechanics and keeps his barrel in the zone for a long time, leading to strong contact rates. Flemming has also shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields.

Given his age, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding his offensive profile and what it could become. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, he already flashes power potential, but there’s still room to add strength to his frame.

As his body continues to develop, that added strength could unlock even more power, making him one of the most intriguing offensive prospects in baseball.

The only pitcher heading back to Detroit in this proposal is Ty Johnson. The 24-year-old right-hander has spent this season with the Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate.

Johnson has continued his impressive minor league career, working a 3.26 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. He has succeeded at every level of the minors and is now doing the same at Triple-A, making a strong case for his major-league debut.

He made 10 starts this season before coming out of the bullpen for the first time on July 25. While he has found success as a starter, an arsenal built primarily around a fastball and slider could ultimately make him a better fit in relief.

Nonetheless, he is a solid prospect who could be knocking on the door of a major-league opportunity.

Rounding out this potential trade is 23-year-old outfield prospect Austin Overn. Overn was part of the deal that sent him, Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, and Michael Foret to the Rays’ system in exchange for Shane Baz.

He is now in the midst of the best season of his minor league career. Through 57 Double-A games, he’s slashing .303/.386/.518 with a 139 wRC+. The power tool has seemingly taken a step forward, as he’s blasted 11 home runs already—just two shy of his 2025 total in less than half as many games.

his 2025 total in less than half as many games.

To go with that, he is one of the fastest players in the minors, which is evident in his stolen base totals. This season, he has swiped 46 bags while being caught just four times. That elite speed also plays a major role in his impressive defensive ability.

The only real hole in his game is the strikeouts. He’s running a 31.2% strikeout rate this season, which leaves some question as to how his offensive profile will translate as he moves through the upper levels of the minor leagues.

It would be an aggressive move by the Rays’ front office, but also one that significantly increases its chances of winning the World Series this season. As for the Tigers, they would land a substantial return for Skubal before he hits free agency this winter. It’s a trade that, without a doubt, takes guts from both sides, but one that would be understandable from each team’s perspective.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers Receive: Tarik Skubal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have consistently been one of Major League Baseball’s top teams for years. So far, 2026 has been no different. With a 68-40 record, they own the best mark in baseball and lead their division by 11.5 games.

They currently lead MLB with a 113 team wRC+ and rank second in position player WAR, according to FanGraphs. To go with that, their starting staff owns the lowest ERA in the game. They have dominated at every level, and it’s not hard to see why they’re so good.

The Dodgers don’t operate like most organizations. Even after building the best record in baseball and establishing themselves as the favorite to win another World Series, they rarely stand pat at the trade deadline. If an opportunity presents itself to acquire elite talent, Los Angeles has consistently shown a willingness to act.

Tarik Skubal represents exactly that type of opportunity. While the Dodgers already boast one of baseball’s top rotations, adding another frontline starter would further strengthen a club built with October in mind.

With the deadline approaching, Los Angeles has consistently been mentioned in rumors surrounding a potential Skubal trade. If they manage to land him, they would become the heavy favorites to capture a third straight title.

Tigers Receive: RHP Emmet Sheehan, OF Zyhir Hope (JB No. 40)

The MLB talent heading to the Detroit rotation in this potential trade is right-hander Emmet Sheehan. Now in the middle of his longest run in the major leagues, Sheehan is looking to live up to his potential. Across 92.2 innings this season, he owns a 4.95 ERA, which is a bit underwhelming.

However, he has the stuff to be a successful major league starter. He features a mid-90s fastball with good carry, a hard slider, a changeup, and a curveball, each of which generates whiffs at a high rate. He induces plenty of chase, leading to swings and misses while also limiting walks.

Where he runs into trouble is preventing hard contact and limiting damage. While he is around league average in hard-hit rate and average exit velocity, he ranks in the 17th percentile in barrel rate. Sheehan is not a groundball pitcher, which can work, but he allows too much damage on too many of those fly balls.

Still, he’s under team control through the 2029 season and, with his arsenal, has sky-high potential.

As for the prospect moving to the Tigers’ system, Zyhir Hope has established himself as one of baseball’s top outfield prospects since being dealt to the Dodgers in 2024.

Through 91 games this season, Hope has already hit 21 home runs, a career high by eight, while posting a 128 wRC+ in Double-A. He produces impressive exit velocities for his age and possesses big raw power for a 21-year-old prospect.

As he continues to develop, it will be important to monitor how his contact and strikeout rates progress. So far this season, he has made a massive improvement in his contact percentage, jumping from 68.3% in 2025 to 74.2% this season. He has also seen marginal improvement in his swinging-strike rate.

He’s proven to be a top prospect and continues to improve his game.

The Dodgers would be trading from a surplus of top outfield prospects while swapping a project starter for an established ace. They would undoubtedly become the favorite to win the World Series while largely maintaining their prospect capital. For the Tigers, they would land an MLB-ready arm with breakout potential and a top prospect who could contribute to their club as soon as 2027.

Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers Receive: Tarik Skubal

The Milwaukee Brewers have built a reputation as one of baseball’s most well-run organizations. Year after year, they develop talent, maximize every dollar, and consistently find themselves in postseason contention despite operating as one of the league’s smallest-market clubs.

This season has been no different. The Brewers sit atop the National League Central and have been carried by one of the best pitching staffs in the sport. They rank near the top of the league in ERA and have once again positioned themselves for a deep postseason run.

The question isn’t whether they are good enough to contend; it’s whether the front office is willing to break from its usual approach.

The Brewers have rarely made the type of blockbuster acquisition that costs multiple top prospects. Instead, they have often focused on maintaining a strong farm system and building long-term success rather than putting all their resources into one season. However, opportunities to add a pitcher of Tarik Skubal’s caliber don’t come around often.

Adding one of the game’s premier starters would give Milwaukee arguably its most formidable rotation heading into October in years. If there were ever a time for the Brewers to push their chips to the center of the table, this may be it.

Tigers Receive: 3B Andrew Fischer, OF Josiah Ragsdale, RHP Coleman Crow

One of the biggest breakout bats in the minor leagues this season is Andrew Fischer. He is the headliner of the return in this package and has really put scouts on notice.

The 2025 draftee hit just one home run across 19 games last season. Through 86 games between High-A and Double-A this year, he’s already up to an astounding 33 long balls. That mark leads all of minor league baseball and continues to climb.

He is obviously slugging at an elite level, but he has also shown an impressive ability to draw walks. He ranks near the top of the Brewers’ farm system in both walk rate and total walks this season.

There are some swing-and-miss and strikeout concerns, but those have been largely overshadowed by his unreal power production. It’s still his first full professional season, giving him plenty of time to improve in that area. If he can even make modest strides, he could develop into one of the top prospects in the game.

The second prospect in this deal is Josiah Ragsdale, another intriguing player who is showing significant potential in multiple areas. Beginning with the power, he’s totaled 38 extra-base hits so far this season after recording just one during his 21-game stint in Single-A following the draft last season.

This is a major development, especially for a player with his speed. He carries a 70-grade run tool that has fueled strong defensive ability and a high stolen base rate. Combined with his ability to draw walks, this could become a dangerous offensive profile. He has drawn walks at a 17.6% clip across High-A and Double-A this season, fueling a .444 on-base percentage and contributing to his 31 stolen bases.

While he is striking out at a 25.4% rate, his swinging-strike rate sits below 10%, suggesting there is room for improvement. He is extremely selective, perhaps more than he needs to be at times. If he can find a middle ground with his approach, the profile is there for a well-rounded offensive prospect.

The Tigers would also be receiving some near-ready talent in this deal with Coleman Crow. He is a soft-tossing right-hander who has shown the ability to rack up strikeouts and generate whiffs with his ability to spin the ball.

Both his curveball and sweeper have generated chase and whiffs throughout his minor league career, although that success has dipped this season between Triple-A and the majors. Still, he has found plenty of success in the past and remains a young, controllable arm.

This is potentially the highest-ceiling package for the Tigers. Two bats with legitimate top-prospect potential, some refinement still needed, and a young arm who could benefit from a fresh set of eyes creates a massive haul.

Atlanta Braves

Braves Receive: Tarik Skubal

Every team deals with injuries, but few have been hit harder than the Atlanta Braves‘ rotation this season. Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and AJ Smith-Shawver have all missed significant time, forcing Atlanta to rely on its depth throughout the year.

Despite those setbacks, the Braves have remained one of the National League’s top teams. Their starters have combined for a 3.91 ERA, the eighth-best mark in baseball, with Chris Sale anchoring the staff.

On the offensive side, they have also felt the impact of missing Ronald Acuña Jr. in a major way. With him now back in the lineup and Smith-Shawver returning to the rotation, Atlanta is beginning to look like a legitimate championship-caliber team once again.

Still, adding a pitcher of Tarik Skubal’s caliber could elevate the Braves into the top tier of World Series contenders. Pairing him with Sale would give Atlanta two of baseball’s best left-handed starters, creating what could be an unfair one-two punch come October.

Tigers Receive: INF Tate Southisene, RHP Owen Murphy, RHP Luke Sinnard

Though all three prospects in this proposal are impressive in their own right, Tate Southisene is the real prize. The 19-year-old middle infielder has already worked his way up to Double-A Columbus after dominating at both Single-A and High-A.

Across three levels this season, he is slashing .278/.408/.467, good for a 139 wRC+. Southisene has added 12 home runs, showing flashes of above-average power. His frame isn’t the biggest, but at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he has plus bat speed that could become a major factor in his offensive profile.

Though he can get aggressive in the box at times, he has still displayed solid bat-to-ball ability this year. A 22.4% strikeout rate may not seem overly impressive, but for a 19-year-old in his first full professional season, it is more than respectable. To go with that, he is running a 9.3% swinging-strike rate. There is still room for improvement, but it’s hard to complain about those numbers at this stage of his development.

Rounding out his profile is borderline elite speed. He has used that tool, along with his high on-base percentage, to swipe 45 bags so far this season. He’s a relatively polished prospect for his age — one that any team would be lucky to have.

The first of two pitchers in this package is 22-year-old right-hander Owen Murphy. He has spent most of his 2026 season in Triple-A, where he has posted a 3.66 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 64 innings.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, and his velocity has yet to fully return. However, it has started to tick back up this year, and he has continued to find success with his ability to spin the ball and mix his pitches.

Murphy can generate carry on his fastball and features five secondary pitches with distinct shapes and velocity profiles. That variety fuels his ability to keep hitters uncomfortable, preventing them from sitting on one pitch. In turn, he has been able to generate whiffs, strikeouts, and weak contact throughout his minor league career.

He has already gotten a taste of MLB action and may be close to earning a more permanent opportunity soon. Similar to Southisene, he is a polished prospect for his age, though in a very different way.

Finishing up this deal is Luke Sinnard. He’s a 6-foot-7 right-hander who has really impressed in his limited time on the mound this season. Despite missing time due to injury, he has managed a 2.16 ERA, showcased his deep arsenal, and commanded each of his pitches well.

Sinnard works with a low-to-mid-90s fastball that he pairs with multiple secondary pitches. He’s still in the lower levels of the minor leagues, but if he can stay healthy, that may not be the case for long.

With his frame, there is room for an uptick in velocity, and that has already begun to show this season. There is plenty to like about his profile. However, among this group, he is more of a lottery ticket.

If the Tigers’ front office moves Skubal, this is the type of return they should be looking for. They would receive MLB-ready pitching, along with players producing at a high level throughout the lower levels of the minor leagues.

Each of these teams is a legitimate World Series contender, but acquiring Tarik Skubal would raise their ceiling even further. While the cost of a trade would be significant, opportunities to add one of baseball’s premier starting pitchers are exceptionally rare.

For Detroit, moving Skubal is not a simple decision. However, if the Tigers believe he is unlikely to remain with the organization beyond this season, maximizing his value at the deadline could significantly strengthen an already impressive farm system.

Any deal involving Skubal would require an enormous return, and each of these proposals reflects the type of package it would take to acquire one of the game’s best pitchers.