Five teams that could potentially trade for Tarik Skubal this offseason

What would it take to pull off a trade for arguably the best pitcher in baseball? Only the Detroit Tigers know the answer to that. 

New York Post columnist and insider Jon Heyman recently reported that the Tigers and left-handed ace Tarik Skubal are "staring down a $250 million gap" in contract extension talks ahead of the latter's free agency following the 2026 season. 

Skubal, represented by super-agent Scott Boras, is understandably asking for a king's ransom given the likelihood that he captures consecutive American League Cy Young awards. The southpaw finished 2025 with a career-best 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 241 strikeouts and a career-low 1.5 walks-per-nine innings. 

Therefore, if Detroit proves unwilling to dole out a historic contract to its homegrown ace, the best course of action may just be to trade him for a haul to ensure Skubal doesn't leave the Motor City for nothing.

Here are five teams that could be ready to make a deal. 

New York Mets

The Mets have already been linked to Skubal in some circles. They could use an ace badly in 2026 after playing the 2025 season without one. That lack of a No. 1 starter was a major reason why New York missed the playoffs in stunning fashion. 

Money isn't an issue for the deep-pocked Mets, either, thanks to owner Steve Cohen. So if New York decided to trade for Skubal, they could double up on their leverage of having one of baseball's top farm systems as well as a sizable checkbook. 

Seattle Mariners

Skubal played college baseball at Seattle University, just a few miles from T-Mobile Park, where the Mariners play. Notably, Seattle beat Skubal's Tigers twice in this year's ALDS, advancing to its first ALCS in 24 years. 

The Mariners don't necessarily need pitching, but acquiring Skubal would not only give them a true top-flight starter: It would also represent a wholesome, full-circle moment for both the player and the city. 

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs lost their own southpaw ace in Justin Steele to Tommy John surgery in April, leaving a void that ultimately no other Chicago pitcher was able to fill in 2025. Rookie right-hander Cade Horton (2.67 ERA in 22 starts) was promising, but finished the season injured and was unable to contribute to the Cubs' brief October run. 

With Steele and Horton on the mend and in an NL Central division that looks to be winnable in 2026, Chicago could make a great deal of sense as a landing spot for Skubal.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles traded for right-hander Corbin Burnes before the 2024 season, and that worked out swimmingly — he pitched to a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts as Baltimore made its second consecutive playoff appearance. 

Playing without an ace in 2025, the Orioles struggled and failed to make the postseason despite a promising core. They could benefit from adding a pitcher of Skubal's caliber to put them back on the map in 2026. 

San Diego Padres

An organization run by A.J. Preller can simply never be counted out. The Padres have swung many big trades before, and Skubal would only be another in a lineage of blockbusters. 

San Diego, much like other teams on this list, lacks a clear-cut ace, which prohibits them from truly challenging the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and the playoff picture as a whole. Just one problem: Who would they trade to Detroit in return for Skubal?