This offseason will see a lot of teams splash money on some of the biggest names in MLB. Batters like Alex Bregman and Kyle Schwarber are going to see big cheques, and in pitching, one such name is Tarik Skubal. Even before the 2025 season ended, everybody was eyeing Skubal. But it is all up to the Detroit Tigers and their management, and how they want to play it. But with rising pressure from Scott Boras and rivals, they are not going to have much time to ponder.

In a recent piece by The Athletic, they talked about Tarik Skubal and his future outlook.“Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal remains the subject of rampant trade speculation… The sport’s annual general managers’ meetings ended… with more questions… Boras staged his own press conference during the GM meetings… The presence of Boras is a complicating factor for any team dreaming about acquiring Skubal,” they wrote.

Tarik Skubal’s name echoes through almost every major-league front office this winter, as rival executives openly discuss his potential availability. His dominance is unmistakable. In the past two seasons, he has thrown 387 ⅓ innings with a 2.30 ERA, a 31.2 percent strikeout rate, and only a 4.5 percent walk rate. While many believe the Tigers are unlikely to trade him, insiders acknowledge that teams will still try, given his super-ace status.

The pressure from that competition has only intensified rumors and put Detroit in a complicated spot.

Scott Boras stands firmly at the center of every major possible outcome, wielding his negotiation strength with force and finesse. He has made it clear he’s “always willing to listen” to owner Chris Ilitch or Brian Harris about signing talks, but is also widely expected to push Skubal toward free agency.

At the same time, competing executives argue that trading Skubal could seriously damage Detroit’s playoff chances, believing his talent is too rare to give up. Multiple rival teams also admit it would be difficult to assemble a compelling package, given his scarcity and value.

For his part, Tarik Skubal has expressed a sincere desire to remain in Detroit for the long haul, telling reporters he “wants to be a Tiger for a very long time.” His presence matters not just because he’s dominant, but because the Tigers go 42–20 in his starts, while the team is a .500 club otherwise. That leverage, his control, premium performance, and Boras’s hand mean that any trade or extension will reshape more than just Detroit’s next year. As things currently stand, Boras and Skubal hold the upper hand, forcing the Tigers to weigh a costly extension versus a rare trade opportunity.

Tarik Skubal has become the offseason puzzle nobody can solve without risking something significant. Scott Boras keeps tightening the screws while Detroit keeps pretending the clock is not ticking yet. The Tigers must soon decide whether they want stability or headlines because the market will not wait.

Are the Dodgers sneaky favorites to get the bragging rights for Tarik Skubal?

If you listen closely, you can almost hear half the league pretending they aren’t sweating over what the LA Dodgers are plotting. The Tigers insist they’re in control, yet their grip on Tarik Skubal feels about as firm as a wet infield tarp in a windstorm. And somehow, Los Angeles keeps circling the situation with the casual confidence of a team that already knows how this story ends.

Recently, MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic suggested that the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Giants, and the Dodgers are expected to make their interest known for Skubal. His strong season included thirteen wins and six losses with a 2.21 earned run average. He added 241 strikeouts and kept opponents quiet with a 0.891 WHIP. These numbers drive heavy interest while the Dodgers wait quietly behind larger narratives surrounding his market.

The Dodgers could use Skubal beside Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Ohtani. Adding an arm delivering elite control would strengthen a rotation already carrying significant championship experience. Such depth might stabilize demanding stretches and extend momentum built through recent consecutive titles. Fans following trade discussions feel every update closely as contenders position themselves before major negotiations.

Maybe the Mets and Yankees dominate headlines, but the Dodgers rarely chase noise over results. Los Angeles watches the Skubal sweepstakes with patience that unsettles rivals expecting louder competition. If the Tigers eventually move Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers might claim bragging rights effortlessly.