The talk is getting louder as the Detroit Tigers return from the All-Star break on Friday night when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game series.

Just to reset, the Tigers exit the All-Star break at 47-50.  They are 12 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central and seven games behind the Boston Red Sox for the third (and final) Wild Card spot in the American League.

It's unlikely that the Tigers will challenge for the division title as they are in fourth place in a much-improved AL Central.  But they are within hailing distance of a playoff spot because of the addition of the 3rd Wild Card spot a few years ago.

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The question is only an issue because Skubal (pictured above at Tuesday's All-Star Game) is having such a terrific season for the Tigers.  He is 10-3 on the season with a 2.41 earned run average.  He also has 140 strikeouts in 116 innings pitched with a 0.88 WHIP (Walks & Hits per Innings Pitched).  Excellent numbers throughout.

There are reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles are very interested in acquiring Skubal in a trade for a potential run to the World Series.

Some things you need to think about:

Skubal isn't a free agent until after the 2026 season.  He is what they call Arbitration-Eligible for two more seasons as he will have just over four years of service time in the Majors after the 2024 season.  So the Tigers still control his rights right now.

But Skubal is represented by baseball super agent Scott Boras, who has a history of not having his clients sign contract extensions before they hit free agency.  And because of that, there are people who think it's best to trade Skubal now (when his value is at it's highest) than risk losing him in two years for nothing when he signs a mega million-dollar contract with a big-market team.

Some baseball observers feel that the Tigers could get at least two major league players and 2-4 top minor league prospects for Skubal right now.

But if you're the Tigers, do you really want to do that?

Others say that if you trade Skubal, the Tigers would be telling their fans that they aren't serious about winning and that they're just a "farm club" for the richer teams in MLB (see the Oakland A's, Tampa Bay Rays, etc.).

But what if you get an offer you think you can't refuse?

What do you think?  Let us know in the comments...

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