Big Blow for Detroit Tigers: Tarik Skubal deal agreed with Rivals and two Key players Ruled out due to…

The Orioles and Dodgers are “engaged in talks” with the Tigers regarding a trade for All-Star left-hander Tarik Skubal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. This comes after a previous report from Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, which suggested that Baltimore and L.A. were interested in Skubal but did not confirm the Tigers were entertaining offers for the Cy Young contender.

Both the Orioles and Dodgers have already made it crystal clear they are seeking to add starting pitching ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. Before the All-Star break, Orioles GM Mike Elias expressed interest in adding a starter with multiple years of club control. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have reportedly already made an offer to the White Sox for Garrett Crochet, and Alden Gonzalez of ESPN suggests that adding “a front-of-the-rotation starter” remains their top priority. Crochet is still their number one target, per Gonzalez, though Skubal would be far more than just a consolation prize.

Baltimore and L.A. have been two of the top teams in the league this season, but both clubs have been hit hard by injuries to their starting rotations. The Orioles have lost Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, and John Means for the season. Thus, their rotation has its fair share of question marks after Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the Dodgers currently have names like Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, and Dustin May on the IL. Glasnow and Kershaw are set to return this week, but given their injury histories, L.A. could use another top-of-the-rotation arm for the playoffs. Skubal certainly fits the description.

While it is noteworthy that the Tigers are engaged in discussions about trading Skubal, president of baseball operations Scott Harris might just be doing his due diligence. In other words, the fact that these teams are talking does not mean Harris is seriously considering any offers. Indeed, several sources seem to think it is still highly doubtful Detroit will trade Skubal this season. According to Nightengale, Detroit will only move Skubal if the front office is “overwhelmed” by an offer. Gonzalez reports that sources familiar with the Tigers’ thinking believe a trade is unlikely. Verducci’s source offered

similar information, though added that “everything has a price.” Evidently, the Dodgers and Orioles are trying to find the price that will convince Scott Harris to trade away his best player.

The Yankees might also be trying to find that price, as Nightengale reports they would be willing to part with top prospect Spencer Jones to land a young ace like Skubal or Crochet. Previously, Jones was thought to be all but untouchable, but the Yankees might be getting more desperate for upgrades. They have gone 10-20 over their last 30 games, falling out of first place in the AL East. Their starting rotation has a league-worst 6.02 ERA in that time.

Jones, a towering, power-hitting outfielder, is widely considered a top-100 prospect in the game. It’s easy to understand why the Yankees would be hesitant to trade him, but it’s equally clear why the Tigers would command a prospect of that caliber in a package for a 27-year-old ace with two and a half years of club control remaining.

Skubal claimed the final spot on MLBTR’s ranking of the top 50 trade candidates for the deadline. His low ranking has nothing to do with his talent but rather reflects how unlikely he is to be dealt. Still, there is a good reason he was included on the list at all. Several contenders are sure to make a push to acquire Skubal, and if he is dealt, it could be the biggest blockbuster of the summer.

Detroit Tigers Announce Unfortunate Decision On Reese Olson, Kerry Carpenter

Reese Olson was injured during Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays

The Detroit Tigers have made a series of roster moves, including an unfortunate announcement regarding right-hander Reese Olson. The team has placed Olson on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, a significant blow to the pitching staff as they continue their season.

Reese Olson’s Injury and Impact

Reese Olson exited his start against the Blue Jays after just two innings on Saturday due to a sore right shoulder. Olson managed to strand runners with double-play grounders in his two scoreless innings, allowing only two singles and one walk. He threw 30 pitches, 16 for strikes, before being replaced by right-hander Alex Faedo in the third inning. Olson was seeking his fourth consecutive win, having previously secured victories over Cincinnati and Cleveland before the All-Star break and defeating the Chicago White Sox on June 23.

Starting the season 0-5 in his first nine starts, Olson, 24, has significantly improved his performance. He arrived in Toronto with a 4-8 record and a 3.30 ERA over 18 starts in his second major league season with the Tigers. This injury marks a significant setback for both Olson and the Tigers as they navigate the remainder of the season.

Additional Roster Moves

In conjunction with Olson’s injury, the Tigers announced several other roster adjustments. Following yesterday’s game, the team optioned INF/OF Ryan Vilade to Triple-A Toledo and placed Olson on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. To bolster their lineup and pitching staff, the Tigers selected INF/OF Bligh Madris from Triple-A Toledo and recalled LHP Easton Lucas from Triple-A Toledo. Additionally, to make room for Madris on the 40-man roster, the team transferred OF Kerry Carpenter to the 60-day injured list.