Insider: Realistic Chicago Cubs Trade Package For Tarik Skubal

It’s not a certainty, but it’s widely speculated that the Detroit Tigers plan to make starting pitcher Tarik Skubal available at the MLB trade deadline. There will be suitors; the timing just depends on his recovery and return from injury. The Chicago Cubs will certainly be in the mix, and one insider believes they can supply what the Tigers may be looking for in return.

Skubal has not pitched since the end of April, needing surgery to remove loose bodies in his throwing elbow. Since then, the Tigers have imploded. They are now 11.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians, 7.0 games out of a playoff spot. Their record is an abysmal 22-38.

Skubal’s recovery has him in line to return to action sooner rather than later. He’ll have to prove he still has the stuff that made him the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner. The Cubs need someone of that caliber to front their rotation to make a playoff run. Here is who could be in a Cubs trade for Skubal.

Insider: Chicago Cubs Have What Detroit Tigers Need, MLB-Ready Talent

Jim Bowden of The Athletic (Subscription Required) has the Chicago Cubs ranked third in his list of teams most likely to trade with the Detroit Tigers for Tarik Skubal. In return, he believes the Cubs could send outfielder Kevin Alcantara, utility player Matt Shaw, and prospect Dominik Reid.

Alcantara is currently on the Cubs roster in place of Shaw, who is dealing with an injured back. Both have extended experience playing in the majors with the Cubs. Shaw has developed into a utility player that the Cubs use periodically all around the diamond. Meanwhile, Alcantara is a budding power hitter who is deserving of consistent playing time in MLB.

Reid is a right-handed pitcher who was a third-round pick of the Cubs in 2025. He is currently stationed in Myrtle Beach playing for the Low-A Pelicans. Through his first 10 appearances, Reid has posted a 2-3 record with a 3.32 ERA. He still has plenty of development to go through, but the Cubs believe highly in the young prospect.

The Cubs have struggled for the past month. Including the entire offense going cold at the plate, the injuries to the pitching staff have finally caught up to them. As the offense begins to awaken, the pitching staff needs reinforcements for the stretch run. A top-tier pitcher like Skubal may end up being a requirement for them to legitimately be thinking postseason.