The Detroit Tigers and left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal are in the middle of a contract negotiation that seems to be going nowhere.
Skubal and Detroit were reportedly $250 million apart from each other in their negotiations on a new long-term deal, according to SNY. It didn’t help matters that the Tigers seemingly offended their 28-year-old ace with a four-year, $80 million offer at the end of his 2024 Cy Young Award season. Now, rumors are circulating that the team might trade him if they can’t agree.
The Baltimore Orioles are a team in desperate need of stable pitching for the 2026 season. They have Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells coming back from injury, but need another established ace in the rotation. Could the Orioles make a play for Skubal?
The Orioles Lack Capital on a Trade for Tarik Skubal
Detroit would likely be seeking MLB-ready outfielders, a second baseman, or a pair of arms to move the needle for a potential deal. Baltimore has all of those in some capacity, but trading them would mean going into another potential rebuild.
Dylan Beavers is on the cusp of breaking out with the Orioles in 2026. He had a .227/.375/.775 slash line with four home runs in 35 games, along with 26 walks to 36 strikeouts. Colton Cowser missed part of the season with a broken thumb, but still slugged 16 home runs.
Expect to see Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers called up to the Orioles on or after August 15th – Prospects called up for the first time on Aug. 15 or later cannot exceed 45 days of MLB service this season which keeps them eligible for Rookie of the Year next season. pic.twitter.com/L2wNGsuwqM
— Prospect Savant (@ProspectSavant) August 4, 2025
At the same time, Jackson Holliday is also on the cusp of a breakout season, even though he holds a pedestrian .314 on-base percentage. His 17 steals and 17 home runs indicate he could become an All-Star if he continues developing in the right way. Jordan Westburg is a good trade piece, but it might not be enough for Skubal.
Colton Cowser in 2025
.196/.269/.385
Tough second full season for the Milk Man who missed all of May and had some nagging injuries all season
Grade: D
What would you grade Cowser’s season? #Birdland pic.twitter.com/krP8ZrJRT7
— SleeperOrioles (@SleeperOrioles) October 1, 2025
Forget using prospects to make a trade, as Esteban Mejia is Baltimore’s top-rated pitching prospect, who won’t be ready until 2029. Any trade for Skubal might have to include Rodriguez or Wells, or both. That could be too steep for the team to pay, so it would have to be purely an offense-based trade.
The Payroll Can Hold a Long-Term Contract
The good news for the Orioles is that, as of Nov. 7, the team only has $33 million in total payroll for 2026, not including arbitration. There is significant room for the team to maneuver for the offseason. If they somehow landed Skubal, there wouldn’t be any constraints regarding annual value.
Skubal reportedly sought north of $350 million for a long-term deal, though the actual length wasn’t reported at the time. If Skubal wants a seven-year or eight-year deal, that would come out to $45 to $50 million per year. Baltimore could easily afford that for most of the contract until their core players left arbitration and team control. They’d still have room for big-time moves.
Tyler O’Neil being atop the ‘26 Orioles payroll jumps off the page to me, but not as surprising as seeing Felix’s salary.
Source: Spotrac pic.twitter.com/TtaVOqsii3
— Core Drill Cordae (@410wantsNHL) October 18, 2025
Again, it comes down to whether the Orioles have the capital to move for Skubal. They might, but it would require a new rebuild in several areas, especially the outfield. Don’t expect Baltimore to jump on any talks that could be emerging.
Main Photo Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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