Cubs Jump Into Conversation For Tigers' Tarik Skubal

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The Chicago Cubs are a contender ... for Tarik Skubal.

Desperate for starting pitching due to a slew of injuries and poor performances, the Cubs have joined the fray in pursuit of Skubal, the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner for the Detroit Tigers. That is according to a new report Wednesday by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.

Skubal possibly made his last start for the Tigers in a 10-9 loss in 12 innings to the Baltimore Orioles, a game that the Tigers led 7-0 when the big left-hander exited. It left the Tigers with a 51-58 record and 4½ games out of the final AL wild-card spot, although they would have to get past five teams to grab that last berth.

The Cubs (61-47), who have 12 pitchers in the injured list, are in second place in the NL Central, three games behind the three-time defending division champion Milwaukee Brewers, but lead the NL wild-card standings 4½ games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies, who are tied. While Skubal would make a difference in the regular season, he would be a bigger presence in the postseason.

An obstacle for the Cubs would be the package they could put together compared to the Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, just two of the contenders vying for Skubal. Both of those teams have better farm systems, meaning the Cubs might need to give more higher-end prospects to be in the mix, including Northside Baseball's No. 1 and two prospects, Double-A shortstop Jefferson Rojas and High-A outfielder Josiah Hartshorn. The Tigers are also seeking a young MLB-ready pitcher, which the Cubs don't truly possess.

Skubal is a free agent after the season and making $32 million this season.

 

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[Rex Buckingham]

[Brian707]

[Stratos]

He might take us over the LT line.  Tom's out.

[JunkyardWalrus]

Up that price baby!

[Hunter]

Cubs are interested in any available pitcher with a pulse. We go through this every trade deadline. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

He might take us over the LT line.  Tom's out.

They already are and theyre almost guaranteed to go over the next line too.

 

How many teams can trump Jefferson Rojas?

[KCCub]

Haha

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

If that's what they want for Skubal, I hope they enjoy getting nothing when he becomes a free agent.

[Tryptamine]

16 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Haha

 

So basically they're asking for Brown, at least one of Ramirez/Shaw, not sure who the 3rd major league player would be, and then a prospect. Yeah, you can horsefeathers right off. 

[Tryptamine]

I would consider Cabrera and a good prospect, but sure as hell not throwing all that other stuff in for like 8 Skubal starts.

[Stratos]

24 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

They already are and theyre almost guaranteed to go over the next line too.

 

How many teams can trump Jefferson Rojas?

Or Jebediah Hartstone? 

[Rcal10]

I hope he costs that much and I hope the Brewers get him. That will slow down their stream of young talent and he isn’t going to sign with them. Sure, it makes them incredibly tough in the playoffs, but most likely he only gets one start against the Cubs, if the Cubs go that far. Anything can happen. I would just be happy they lost some serious young talent and after this year would have nothing to show for it. 

[chibears55]

30 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Haha

 

They can have Maton, Thielbar, Thornton, Brown,  and Alcantara 🤷😅

[Tryptamine]

7 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

They can have Maton, Thielbar, Thornton, Brown,  and Alcantara 🤷😅

I'm legitimately not giving them Brown and Alcantara.  That leaves the 2027 Cubs with Justin Steele, Colin Rea, Assad and other randoms. There's zero chance they're competitive going forward having to fill that many rotation slots. You would be straight up forfeiting the 2027 season.

[Wilson A2000]

37 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Haha

 

The talks will start there, but they will ask for and get a ton

[Wilson A2000]

7 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

They can have Maton, Thielbar, Thornton, Brown,  and Alcantara 🤷😅

Don’t forget Bregman

[Wilson A2000]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm legitimately not giving them Brown and Alcantara.  That leaves the 2027 Cubs with Justin Steele, Colin Rea, Assad and other randoms. There's zero chance they're competitive going forward having to fill that many rotation slots. You would be straight up forfeiting the 2027 season.

Why is Alcantara not tradeable?

[Tryptamine]

15 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Why is Alcantara not tradeable?

He is, you just can't get rid of both. They'd have to go fill the at least 3 holes in the rotation in one offseason and that isn't going to happen.

[Stratos]

22 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm legitimately not giving them Brown and Alcantara.  That leaves the 2027 Cubs with Justin Steele, Colin Rea, Assad and other randoms. There's zero chance they're competitive going forward having to fill that many rotation slots. You would be straight up forfeiting the 2027 season.

Unless they think the neck is a longterm issue that can't be fixed, I can't see the Cubs giving up Brown for him or any rental. 

[squally1313]

If not having Ben Brown is 'forfeiting the season' next year, we're in much worse shape than I thought. 

Anyways, it's good to see we have the 2026 version of 'the Marlins are asking for Caissie AND Wiggins?!?! no thank you, garbage pitcher instead it is'

[mul21]

26 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

He is, you just can't get rid of both. They'd have to go fill the at least 3 holes in the rotation in one offseason and that isn't going to happen.

Are you mixing up Cabrera (the former Marlins pitcher/current Cub) and Sandy Alcantara (the current Marlins pitcher) and Kevin Alcantara (current Cubs OF)?

[Neuby]

Depends on what the rest of the plan looks like at the deadline, but Brown going to Detroit for Scrubal isn't off the table for me.

[JD94]

George Ofman is always so wrong nowadays. I’m not doubting Detroit’s initial asking price is through the roof, maybe even close to what George said, but he says some of the dumbest stuff that clearly proves he’s not sourced anymore. Wouldn’t listen to much he has to say

[Tryptamine]

32 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Are you mixing up Cabrera (the former Marlins pitcher/current Cub) and Sandy Alcantara (the current Marlins pitcher) and Kevin Alcantara (current Cubs OF)?

Yup I meant Cabrera, not Alcantara, my fault.