Tarik Skubal Next Team Odds - Dodgers, Yankees Among Favorites to Land Ace

Tarik Skubal is set to be the MLB Trade Deadline's big fish. With a record-setting payday around the corner, the Tigers will likely try to flip their ace for as many prospects as possible as their playoff chances continue to dwindle.

Skubal has been out of action with an elbow injury since April, but recently looked like his typically dominant self in a rehab start, so a comeback could be on the docket.

We've broken down the five most likely destinations, with odds courtesy of Kalshi.

The usual suspects that would make every baseball fan throw their phone in disgust after getting the alert.

Whenever an All-Star is available, LA seems to be in the mix, and it would make sense even as a rental. The Dodgers have both a need in the pitching staff, and enough depth in the farm system to make the deal happen.

When looking ahead to the playoffs, the rotation would likely consist of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, and Emmet Sheehan (assuming Roki Sasaki is relegated to bullpen work again).

Sheehan or Wrobleski would likely be one of the centerpieces of the deal, effectively swapping out that spot for Skubal.

Absolutely no one wants to see it happen, but it makes sense that LA is the leading favorite.

This is likely the most interesting trade destination. Since there's very little history to suggest the organization would be willing to spend the hundreds of millions needed to keep Skubal in Milwaukee, this would be a virtually guaranteed rental.

It's not unheard of in the club's history either. Who could forget the insane run CC Sabathia had as a rented ace in 2008?

The question is whether the organization would be willing to swallow the prospect price for a rental, as one of their two top 20 prospects - Jésus Made (#1) or Luis Peña (#16) - would likely have to be included for Detroit to pull the trigger.

It would make them an instant contender, and after falling short to the Dodgers in the NLCS last season, they might view Skubal as the missing piece.

Of course, it's no guarantee that Detroit decides to move on during the season. They could always play out the season and try to either re-sign him or settle for a comp pick.

Still, this seems unlikely. 

There have been very few reports of any contract talks between the two sides, and settling for a comp pick would be a disaster for the Tigers organization.

A trade of this magnitude could kickstart the next era of Tigers baseball, so my money would be on a trade coming by July's deadline.

Similar to the Dodgers, the Yankees are always going to be involved whenever top players are available. However, they're lacking the farm system firepower to compete with some of the other most-likely destinations.

The package heading back to Detroit would likely include outfield prospect Spencer Jones and one of the Yankees' two top pitching prospects. By no means a bad haul, but for an ace coming off back-to-back Cy Youngs, it may be a bit hard for the Detroit front office to stomach.

You can never count the Yankees out, but I'd wager a real Skupal pursuit would have to wait until free agency.

It's well-known that San Diego GM A.J. Preller has a crippling addiction to splashy roster moves. 

Last season, they shocked the baseball world by trading top prospect Leo DeVries for closer Mason Miller. That trade has worked out for San Diego thus far, but many question the long-term ramifications of trading a top hitting prospect for a reliever.

The price for Skubal probably starts with catching prospect Ethan Salas and pitching prospect Kruz Schoolcraft. That's two top 100 prospects, plus whatever else would be demanded by Detroit.

It would be a crazy trade package, reminiscent of what was sent to Washington in the Juan Soto trade a few seasons back, a trade so monumental it actually has its own Wikipedia page. It all depends on whether Preller is willing to risk making the same mistake twice to make the Padres a contender. 

When considering the X-factor that ownership would be willing to try and sign Skubal to an extension in the offseason, San Diego has to be considered the dark horse in this race.