Tigers may take Tarik Skubal call to the wire as MLB deadline nears
ESPN reports Detroit is still weighing whether to move Tarik Skubal, while the Yankees and White Sox are shopping for help before Aug. 3.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Tarik Skubal is the name hanging over baseball’s deadline week, and ESPN reports the Detroit Tigers may not make their call on him until the final hours before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Aug. 3.
According to ESPN’s deadline coverage, Detroit believes it can still win its division, a view some rival clubs also share. That belief has made a Skubal trade less certain as the deadline approaches.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that the Tigers plan to wait as long as possible before deciding whether to move the left-hander. Rogers wrote that cutting their division deficit in half by the deadline would make the decision easier for Detroit.
There is also a scenario in which the Tigers trade Skubal and still try to compete, according to Rogers, though he raised the question of how such a move would affect the clubhouse.
Skubal tops the board
ESPN listed Skubal as the top trending name of the deadline and described him as the best pitcher in baseball. Detroit’s recent run has complicated the market, with the club’s improved position lowering the chances of a deal.
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman is another major name to watch, according to ESPN. The network reported that Boston’s own push back into contention has also made a Chapman trade less likely than it might have been earlier.
San Francisco Giants All-Star Luis Arraez was also highlighted by ESPN as a key deadline player. Arraez is an impending free agent, and ESPN pointed to his contact-heavy offensive style as a fit for many contenders.
White Sox want arms
The Chicago White Sox are searching for pitching in several forms, Rogers reported. Their needs include a starter good enough for a playoff rotation or a pitcher who can help fill out the back end.
Rogers noted that Erick Fedde and rookie Noah Schultz are currently part of the back of Chicago’s rotation, and that one or both could be moved down or out depending on additions.
Cincinnati Reds starter Brady Singer fits what Chicago is looking for, according to Rogers, who reported that Singer is very likely to be traded. Rogers also wrote that an experienced reliever would help the White Sox shorten games, though a starter is the bigger need.
Yankees shop for a catcher and bullpen help
The New York Yankees are looking at multiple spots, according to ESPN: catcher, one or two late-inning relievers, and a right-handed-hitting outfielder.
ESPN reported that catcher and bullpen help rank ahead of an outfielder on New York’s list, though uncertainty around Aaron Judge’s status could push the Yankees to seek insurance.
Adding a catcher in the middle of a season is difficult, but ESPN reported that the Yankees have received the worst production in the majors from that position.
The bullpen picture is also unsettled. ESPN reported that at least two Yankees starters could move to relief once the rotation is healthy, while Clarke Schmidt is expected to return from Tommy John surgery later in the season, possibly as a reliever.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.