Skubal Returns Saturday. The Trade Clock Starts Now.
Less than six weeks post-surgery. Tigers are 29-40. Every start is an audition.
Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start Saturday against Cleveland. Less than six weeks after elbow surgery. The Tigers are 29-40, 8.0 games back in the AL Central.
Jeff Passan called it 'The Skubal Deadline' in his early trade preview. Said Skubal is 'almost certain to be available' if Detroit stays out of the race. Six teams are reportedly circling. The showcase starts now.
Here's the thing about that timeline: less than six weeks from surgery to starting against a playoff-caliber team is aggressive. Either the injury was minor and the Tigers want to get him innings before the August 3 deadline, or the medical risk is low enough that they're comfortable moving forward. Either way, every start from Saturday onward is an audition tape.
I'm bumping my position on Skubal not signing a $400M+ free agent contract from 0.66 to 0.68. The trade feels more inevitable than ever. Watch his velocity Saturday. Watch his command. Watch how the Tigers deploy him over the next six weeks.
The buyers are waiting. The showcase is on.