Skubal is only 27 years old and he has established himself as one of the best pitchers in MLB. He was selected to his first All-Star team this season and currently leads the league in ERA (2.35), ERA-plus (180), and wins (12). Skubal has also struck out 154 hitters across his 130 innings of work.

The Tigers left-handed starter was mentioned in trade rumors before the 2024 deadline. There was no urgency to trade him, as Skubal is under team control through the 2026 campaign. The Tigers are just 52-57 in 2024, but they likely envision themselves competing within the next year or two.

Having Skubal lead the rotation will place the Tigers in a competitive position. Trading him to the Dodgers, or any team, would have only prolonged their rebuild.

Tigers are close to competing as Dodgers fail to trade for Tarik Skubal
There were some people around the MLB world who believed the Tigers could make a postseason run in 2024. Detroit has taken steps forward in recent seasons, but they are not a serious contender just yet.

Where Will the Detroit Tigers Trade Deadline Acquisitions Be Playing.

The 2024 Trade Deadline has come and gone, the Detroit Tigers have traded away Jack Flaherty, Andrew Chafin, Cason Kelly, and Mark Canha. In the Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers , they acquired catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Trey Sweeney; Liranzo will report to High-A West Michigan while Sweeney will play in Triple-A at Toledo. In the Andrew Chafin deal with the Texas Rangers , they acquired RHP Joseph Montalvo and RHP Chase Lee; Montalvo will head to High-A West Michigan while Lee will be at Triple-A Toledo. In the Carson Kelly trade also with the Rangers, they acquired catcher Liam Hicks and RHP Tyler Owens, they were both assigned to Double-A Erie. Finally, in the Mark Canha trade with the San Francisco Giants , they acquired RHP Eric Silva who will also report to Double-A Erie.

Get To Know The Knew Tigers Prospects
C – Thayron Liranzo
Liranzo was signed as an international free agent in January of 2021. In his first four seasons in the Dodgers system, he played in 230 games hitting .247 with a .836 OPS; he has 54 doubles, three triples, 40 home runs, 139 RBI, 150 runs scored, six stolen bases, and 154 walks. This season at High-A he has played in 74 games hitting .220 with a .700 OPS; he has 15 doubles, seven home runs, 30 RBI, 35 runs scored, one stolen base, and 49 walks.

INF – Trey Sweeney
Sweeney was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He spent three seasons in the Yankees system before being traded to the Dodgers this past offseason. In four seasons in the minors, he’s played in 340 games hitting .250 with a .781 OPS; he has 65 doubles, 13 triples, 49 home runs, 181 RBI, 238 runs scored, 71 stolen bases, and 197 walks. This season in 96 games at Triple-A he’s hitting .255 with a .761 OPS; he has 22 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, 62 RBI, 65 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, and 44 walks.

RHP – Joseph Montalvo
Montalvo was drafted in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. In three seasons he’s made 45 appearances with 31 of those coming as starts, he is 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, a 3.1 BB/9, and a 10.9 K/9 in 177.2 innings. This season at High-A he’s made 13 starts going 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, a 2.9 BB/9, and an 11.1 K/9 in 59 innings.

RHP – Chase Lee
Lee was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He’s in his fourth season having made 123 appearances with five of those coming as starts going 6-7 with a 3.76 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, a 3.4 BB/9, and a 12.3 K/9 in 150.2 innings. This season he’s pitched at Triple-A and in rookie ball making 11 appearances with one start going 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA, a 1.64 WHIP, a 4.5 BB/9, and an 11.6 K/9 in 14 innings.

C – Liam Hicks
Hicks was drafted in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. In four minor league seasons, he’s played in 232 games hitting .275 with a .778 OPS; he has 39 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 112 RBI, 111 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, and 143 walks. This season at Double-A, he’s played in 80 games hitting .260 with a .717 OPS; he has 15 doubles, four home runs, 33 RBI, 47 runs scored, one stolen base, and 41 walks.

RHP – Tyler Owens
Owens was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. In five minor league seasons, he’s appeared in 103 games with 32 of those coming as starts going 7-15 with a 4.10 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, a 3.4 BB/9, and a 9.6 K/9 in 204.1 innings. This season he’s appeared in 26 games going 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, a 2.3 BB/9, and an 8.9 K/9 in 35.1 innings.

RHP – Eric Silva
Silva was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. In four minor league seasons, he has appeared in 82 games with 42 of those coming as starts going 9-17 with a 5.72 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, a 4.3 BB/9, and a 10.2 K/9 in 209.1 innings. This season at Double-A he’s appeared in 28 games going 4-2 with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, a 3.9 BB/9, and an 11.1 K/9 in 41.1 innings.