"Unless the world ends or BBWAA members all lose their minds, Tarik Skubal will win his second straight Cy Young award once the postseason is over. This inevitable feat makes rumors of a possible trade even crazier, although recent reports regarding the state of his contract negotiations with the Tigers make it feel more plausible. Jon Heyman tweeted that they were about $250 million apart a year ago, and there have been no indications that progress has been made."
"That gap alone would rank No. 20 all-time among the largest MLB contracts, so it's clear Skubal will be seeking something much larger. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported that the Tigers offered Skubal a four-year extension worth less than $100 million after the 2024 season. Offering him a deal that didn't even reach $25 million AAV when he won the Cy Young with a 2.39 ERA and 6.0 fWAR is crazy."
"Skubal is represented by Scott Boras, which means there is virtually no chance that a deal will be reached unless the Tigers severely overpay. If president of baseball operations Scott Harris and Tigers ownership have no intention of doing that, then trading him while they still can would make sense. The Cubs will be on the hunt for starting pitching this winter, with an ace-caliber arm near the top of their wishlist."
Tarik Skubal is poised to win a second consecutive Cy Young after a dominant season. Contract negotiations between Skubal and the Tigers remain stalled, with reports indicating a roughly $250 million gap. The Tigers reportedly offered a four-year extension worth under $100 million, an amount below $25 million average annual value despite a 2.39 ERA and 6.0 fWAR. Skubal is represented by Scott Boras, making a deal unlikely without significant overpayment. If the Tigers refuse to meet market value, trading Skubal while his value is high would be logical. The Chicago Cubs are potential suitors, but acquiring him as a one-year rental would be costly.
Read at Cubsinsider
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