MLB Trade Rumors: Insider Lists 10 Teams Who'll Compete in Tarik Skubal Sweepstakes

Detroit Tigers' two-time defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is continuing his lightning-quick recovery from elbow surgery, and could be back on the mound by the end of June, by all accounts. The innovative new arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow has been unexpectedly successful.

But as for his future going forward, insider Ken Rosenthal reports on Monday that with the Tigers continuing to bring up the rear in the American League, "a growing belief exists within the industry that Skubal is a goner," as far as the Motor City is concerned.

In other words, he will be finishing this season in another destination, as one of the biggest trade sweepstakes of all-time will be taking place as we head towards the Aug. 3rd deadline.

"If NanoNeedle surgery indeed repaired his elbow with minimal disruption, the frenzy to acquire him might even top what we saw with Juan Soto in 2022 or any other July auction in recent memory," he writes.

Rosenthal goes as far as to name 10 teams that will most certainly be in on the bidding for the pending free agent.

LA Dodgers
NY Yankees
San Diego Padres
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
Milwaukee Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays

The Dodgers and the Yankees are a given, as they are also the teams that would be ready and willing to spend the $400 million or so on a long-term deal to sign him in free agency after the season.

The Padres, Braves, Cubs, Jays and Orioles are all in need of big-time help in the starting rotation, while the Brewers and Rays are each leading their divisions, and adding a Skubal to head up their respective rotations would make them the team to beat come the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are showing no signs of life to potentially head off the Skubal trade deadline frenzy. There are 4-21 since their ace went down, and are now 16 games under .500 with the worst record in the AL.