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MLB Trade Deadline: Skubal Top Target as Aug 3 Nears

The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 3, with two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal as the top prize. The Tigers are weighing a trade as they sit four games back of a wild-card spot.

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MLB Trade Deadline: Skubal Top Target as Aug 3 Nears

MLB Trade Deadline: Skubal Top Target as Aug 3 Nears

The short answer

The MLB trade deadline is the last day teams can make trades without waivers. This year it's Aug. 3. The biggest name available is Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner who returned from surgery in June and has a 2.70 ERA. Teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Braves are interested, but the Tigers may keep him if they make a playoff push.

Why it's trending

The deadline is just days away (Aug. 3), and rumors are intensifying around top trade chip Tarik Skubal. His potential move could reshape the playoff race.

With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, the biggest name on the market is Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. According to FOX Sports, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner is 'the deadline's unquestioned top prize' after returning from bone chip surgery in mid-June. He posted a 2.70 ERA with 12 strikeouts in his most recent start, drawing interest from nearly every contender.

Sources including ESPN and MLB.com report widespread interest, with FOX Sports listing the Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers, Rays, Cubs, Phillies, and Braves as teams interested in Skubal. The price is expected to be enormous because Skubal is a rental headed for free agency. The Tigers' decision hinges on their playoff chances—they are four games back of the final AL Wild Card spot with five teams ahead.

Timeline: Skubal underwent bone chip surgery in early May and returned by mid-June. The trade deadline is Aug. 3, and FOX Sports' predictions were published Jul. 28. The Tigers have lost three straight games, potentially weakening their case to keep him. Other trade candidates like Mason Miller and Freddy Peralta are also in rumors, per MLB.com.

If traded, Skubal would provide a huge boost for a contender's postseason rotation. His impending free agency means the acquiring team would have him only for the 2026 stretch run, but his elite performance makes him worth the prospect cost. The Tigers face a pivotal choice: go for a wild card or cash in on a generational trade return.

Timeline

  1. Skubal undergoes bone chip surgery

    Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had surgery to remove a bone chip, sidelining him for several weeks, per FOX Sports.

  2. Skubal returns from surgery

    He rejoined the Tigers rotation and quickly returned to Cy Young form, with a fastball nearing 100 mph.

  3. FOX Sports publishes trade predictions

    Deesha Thosar’s article identifies Skubal as the top target, with heavy interest from multiple contenders.

  4. MLB trade deadline

    Teams must complete trades by 6 p.m. ET on this date without waivers.

Questions people ask

What is the MLB trade deadline?

It's the final day (Aug. 3 in 2026) teams can trade players without waivers. After that, players must pass through waivers to be dealt.

Which teams are interested in Skubal?

According to FOX Sports, the Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers, Rays, Cubs, Phillies, and Braves are among the interested teams.

Will the Tigers trade Skubal?

It's uncertain. The Tigers are 4 games back of a wild-card spot with five teams ahead. If they believe they can contend, they may keep him; otherwise, they'll likely trade him for a huge prospect haul.

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