The Tarik Skubal sweepstakes seemed to be cresting Saturday night with a growing sense that the Dodgers were frontrunners.
The Yankees and the Brewers also were seen as talking seriously with the Tigers about the two-time defending AL Cy Young winner. The Braves, Phillies and Rays were not seen as strong contenders as of Saturday night, when the sense was growing that a deal could get done before reaching deadline day Monday.
Still nothing was finalized as of Saturday night and the Tigers went into the day just 3 ¹/₂ games out of a wild card, but six games under .500.
Nevertheless, earlier Saturday, the Tigers more specifically asked what they wanted from teams and took offers on Skubal.
The Dodgers pulled two outfield prospects from their Double-A game — Zyhir Hope and Kendall George. It is more traditional to be safe with pitching prospects who might be used in a pending deal than position players, but the Dodgers had been asked enough about these two players that they removed them from the lineup.
The Yankees had stayed engaged even as they heard a Tigers’ initial price that would involve two major leaguers, including a current starting pitcher, and two minor leaguers. It was not believed that Detroit requested the Yankees’ top prospect, George Lombard Jr., the son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard Sr.
If the Yankees were able to pull off a trade for Skubal, they would be improving what already is their strength — their starting pitching. The hope would be that maybe they could then more comfortably use another starter as a way to get much needed hitting.
But the Yankees were not viewed as the favorite. That was the Dodgers, and perhaps the Yankees were not even ahead of the Brewers, who have arguably the majors’ best farm system. Thus, Milwaukee is viewed as a team capable of assembling a high-end package if it wanted to try to pair Skubal with Jacob Misioroski atop the rotation.
Skubal is a free agent after this season. He underwent a new type procedure to remove bone chips from his elbow earlier this year. He has made nine starts since the procedure and pitched to a 2.87 ERA.
