Tarik Skubal makes trade deadline stance clear amid Tigers trade rumors: 'Never been more motivated'

The top prize on the MLB trade market is undoubtedly Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who has long been considered likely to move with an expiring contract and Detroit struggling in the first half.

The Tigers have looked much more like themselves since the start of June. Skubal returned from a stint on the injured list on June 13, and Detroit is 27-16 over its last 43 games to maintain a sliver of hope that a third consecutive trip to the postseason is possible.

As the deadline nears, Skubal says he would rather see it through with the Tigers than be moved.

Here's a look at what Skubal had to say on Thursday.

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Tarik Skubal opens up about trade rumors

Skubal told reporters Thursday that he still believes the Tigers "have a chance to win a World Series" and that he prefers to finish out the season in Detroit.

"That belief in this team has never changed throughout the season," Skubal said. "Going into spring training, the whole offseason, I've never been more motivated to try to win a World Series for this city."

The Tigers have a decision to make on Skubal, who doesn't seem likely to re-sign with the team after the salary arbitration process revealed a major gap between how the reigning Cy Young Award winner values himself and how the franchise values him; Skubal admitted that process hurt his relationship with the Tigers' front office.

The Tigers were once 22-38 with Skubal on the injured list. 27-16 since then, Detroit remains under .500 but within striking distance in a weaker American League at just four games out of a wild-card spot and six games out of the AL Central lead.

Still, the organization will have to weigh the likelihood of a deep postseason run against the cost of potentially losing one of baseball's best starters for nothing but draft pick compensation in the offseason.

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Tarik Skubal trade rumors

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that the Tigers are "far more likely than not to move Skubal" given their position in the postseason race.

The Brewers are among teams who have "touched base" with the Tigers about Skubal, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, so talks have already gotten underway, though it's unclear how seriously Detroit is entertaining offers at this point.

The week ahead could determine how the Tigers approach the deadline. At this stage, it doesn't appear the organization has made a final decision on Skubal's availability.

Tarik Skubal contract

Skubal is set to be a free agent after this season. The Tigers ace is making $32 million after the salary arbitration process ruled in his favor over Detroit's significantly lower $19 million offer. 

That gap has convinced most fans that Skubal is headed elsewhere in free agency in the winter. If the Tigers decide their best bet is to keep Skubal and try to engineer a miraculous postseason run, they run the risk of getting no talent back for one of the best pitchers in baseball, much like the Angels when they held onto Shohei Ohtani at the 2023 deadline.