Tigers' ridiculous Tarik Skubal contract gap screams blockbuster Dodgers trade

There is an entire offseason and regular season to go before Detroit Tigers' starting pitcher Tarik Skubal is a free agent, but many have already circled him as the next blockbuster addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers' roster. Skubal was at the center of the Tigers' success this season, and in the immediate aftermath, his contract status has been the topic of conversation.

And it's a conversation that Tigers' president of baseball operations Scott Harris all but avoided while speaking with reporters earlier this week.

“I understand the question, and I know you have to ask it,” Harris said. “I’ve learned that general comments on this topic tend to get chopped up and forced into narratives. I can’t comment on our players being traded, on free agents, or on other teams’ players. Tarik’s a Tiger. I hope he wins the Cy Young for the second consecutive year. He’s an incredible pitcher, and we’re lucky to have him. That’s all I can say on that.”

Tarik Skubal contract drama could push Tigers toward blockbuster Dodgers deal

Perhaps the reason why Harris didn't want to talk about it is that negotiations with Skubal are already at a standstill. New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that there is a $250 million gap between where the Tigers' last offer was and what Skubal is likely to receive once he becomes a free agent.

Heyman suggested that the Tigers offered Skubal $170 million last offseason. Given his run of dominance and likely having another Cy Young Award under his belt before he reaches free agency, the floor for Skubal's next contract is likely the $324 million figure given to Gerrit Cole back in 2020. Factoring in how the market has shifted since Cole's deal, a $400 million deal certainly seems to be in play for Skubal.

Either during the offseason or by the trade deadline next season, it's an inevitable question that the Tigers will be facing: If they know they are in line to lose Skubal for nothing, are they willing to trade their ace? If the answer to that question is yes, the Dodgers almost certainly will be one of the first teams to place a call.

The Dodgers' farm system remains the strongest in baseball, and the mix of top position-player prospects and pitching prospects could be exactly what the Tigers look for if they make Skubal available. A key name in the potential deal could be Jackson Ferris, who the Tigers could anoint as the long-term replacement to Skubal.

Looking beyond the prospects the Dodgers have to offer, for the Tigers, in a world where they do trade Skubal, pairing with a National League team almost certainly would be the move. It's bad enough that the Tigers might be having this conversation in the near future, but it would be even worse if Skubal's run with a new American League team blocked the Tigers' path to the Fall Classic.