Tarik Skubal reportedly gives hints about hopes for future in Detroit

One of the biggest questions at the upcoming MLB trade deadline will revolve around the future of Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in the Motor City. However, it sounds like Skubal already has his near-future preference in mind.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, Skubal "has informed friends that he badly wants to stay in Detroit the rest of the season, believing they have a legitimate shot at the World Series, and has zero appetite to be traded."

Tigers face tough decision with Tarik Skubal

Skubal, who is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, is the face of a Tigers team that entered Sunday's play at 44-51 overall. However, Detroit is just 5.5 games out of the lead in the American League Central and 2.5 games out of the final AL wild-card spot.

Detroit is 22-13 in June and July games, helping make up for a horrific May when the Tigers went 6-22 and seemed destined to be out of the postseason picture.

The absence of Skubal on the mound certainly contributed to that May dip. The 29-year-old left-hander had surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow after his April 29 start and didn't return to the Detroit rotation until June 13.

While Skubal has looked anything but dominant in his five starts since returning from surgery, posting a 3.62 ERA and 4.71 FIP in 27.1 innings, he is still one of the most coveted arms in all of baseball. His 39 strikeouts during that time show how he can overpower hitters, just one of the reasons why he is the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner.

Detroit faces a tough decision with Skubal, not only at the trade deadline but at the end of the season as well. He will be one of the top-paid pitchers in MLB with a new contract, but will Detroit be willing to spend the money to keep him? And while Skubal reportedly wants to stay in Detroit through the end of the season, will he want to stay there in 2027 and beyond?

If the Tigers were to trade him at the deadline, would they be able to get a package worthy of giving up a generational southpaw? 

Which direction Skubal's career goes at the trade deadline will certainly be one of the period's biggest storylines. It will also raise even more questions about what comes next for Skubal when this season ends.