The Aug. 3 trade deadline is staring us down, just 12 days away. Everyone’s waiting for that first massive deal to drop, and right now, all eyes are on Tarik Skubal.
Tigers’ Ace Looking Unstoppable, Yet on the Block
Dude, Skubal is an absolute ace, no doubt about it. He’s rocking a 2.83 ERA, a .93 WHIP, and he’s fanned 98 batters in 82.2 innings. Seriously, he’s been lights out, especially since coming back from NanoScope elbow surgery last month. He just struck out nine Angels in seven shutout innings this past weekend! The guy is getting progressively better in his seven starts since returning.
So what do the Tigers want for him? The Athletic reports they’re looking for a controllable starting pitcher who can be an ace-level arm in their rotation, PLUS quality prospects. I mean, c’mon. This isn’t for some rental; this is for an absolute stud. Here’s the kicker: The Tigers actually have the AL’s second-best record since June 1, sitting at 25-15! But they’re still five games behind the third wild-card spot and six and a half back in the AL Central. You’d think they’d be buying, not selling their ace!
Yankees Eyeing an All-World Closer
Meanwhile, over in the bullpen world, the Yankees are reportedly ready to go all in for Mason Miller if the Padres even think about making him available. We’re talking about an all-world closer here, man. Miller’s got an insane .86 ERA and .86 WHIP, with 78 strikeouts in just 41.2 innings. That’s just filthy.
The New York Post says the Yankees want him bad, and why wouldn’t they? Imagine Miller alongside David Bednar, who’s been terrific himself the last two months. That’s a combo that’s better than Bednar and anyone else. The Padres got Miller by trading Leo De Vries, one of the top prospects in baseball, last summer. So, yeah, they’re gonna want pitching that’s MLB-ready or close to it. Good thing the Yankees are flush with young arms. On paper, it’s a perfect match.
Phillies Just Need Innings, Not Heroes
Then you’ve got the Phillies, who are just trying to shore up the back end of their rotation. Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesús Luzardo are locked in at the top, and Aaron Nola can hold down the No. 4 spot. Andrew Painter’s down in Triple-A, so they need someone to eat innings as a No. 5 starter. They don’t need impact, just a guy to get them to the finish line of the regular season.
Names like Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, Foster Griffin, Tyler Mahle, Robbie Ray, and Brady Singer are all out there as lower-cost rental options. Just looking for innings, not a hero.
The clock is ticking hard on that Aug. 3 deadline. For Skubal, he’s got two more starts before decision time: Friday against the Royals and next Wednesday facing the Orioles. Every pitch, every out is going to be scrutinized. Is this guy gonna get traded or what? The next week is gonna be wild, buckle up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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