Top Tigers Trade Targets: Best Prospects for a Tarik Skubal Deal

Detroit Tigers Face Tough Decision Over Tarik Skubal

The Detroit Tigers are in a tough spot this offseason. Tarik Skubal is entering the final year of his contract and is considered one of the best pitchers in the American League. However, it's unlikely that the Tigers can afford to extend him. This leaves them with a difficult decision: should they trade Skubal or try to build a championship team around him?

If the Tigers decide to trade Skubal, there are several teams that could be interested. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, potential suitors include the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox. These teams have some of the strongest farm systems in baseball, which could make them attractive trade partners for Detroit.

Top Prospects the Tigers Could Target

If the Tigers go down the trade route, they would want to target top prospects from these teams. Here are some of the most promising players:

1. OF Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers
   
   Josue De Paula, 20, could emerge as a big-league outfielder as early as next season. He finished the season with a .396 OBP, tracking pitches with precision and hitting 12 home runs while stealing 32 bases. Although he's not a great defender, De Paula has the potential to become a strong hitter at the next level.

2. SS Jesús Made, Milwaukee Brewers
   
   Jesús Made, 18, is just beginning his ascent for the Brewers, but the early signs are electrifying. He generates consistent hard contact and avoids strikeouts even at his young age. Made has exceptional speed on the bases, legging out 47 stolen bases across three levels of Minor League competition this season. He's a plus defender at shortstop and has the flexibility to switch to second or third if needed.

3. SS/3B Colt Emerson, Seattle Mariners
   
   Colt Emerson, 20, finished the season with a .388 OBP and .841 OPS across three levels of Minor League competition. He's one of the best infield bats in the Minors, displaying full command over the strike zone and spraying extra-base hits into the outfield gaps on the regular. Emerson is a former wide receiver, covering wide stretches on the left side of the infield.

4. OF Zyhir Hope, Los Angeles Dodgers
   
   The Dodgers farm system ranks No. 1 in MLB, and Zyhir Hope, 20, is one of its standout prospects. He's a smart hitter capable of generating high exit velocities to all fields, a rangy centerfielder, and spritely on the bases. There aren't too many holes to poke in his game, especially given his youth and athleticism, which set the table for rapid growth in the years ahead.

5. 2B Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox
   
   Kristian Campbell, 23, received an extended audition for the Red Sox last season, hitting .223 with a .664 OPS and six home runs in 229 at-bats before rejoining Triple-A Worcester. He's most experienced at second base and in the outfield, but Campbell explored first base this season, offering valuable optionality. He's an incredible athlete at 6-foot-3 and a quick learner, able to adapt and grow on short notice.

6. SS George Lombard Jr., New York Yankees
   
   George Lombard Jr., 20, is the son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard Sr., a former MLB player in his own right. Baseball's in the family — as is the Tigers organization — which could increase the appeal for Detroit. It helps that Lombard is incredibly smart and disciplined across the board, with excellent technique at shortstop, plus speed and instincts on the bases and a refined hitting profile that projects well toward the next level.

7. C/1B Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles
   
   Samuel Basallo, 21, should take on full-time duties for the Orioles next season and he could pop just as quickly in Detroit. At 6-foot-4, the lefty offers a compact swing and hits with power to all fields. He works deep into counts and tracks pitches well, even if his lanky frame and tendency to chase can expand the zone to an uncomfortable degree.

8. LHP Kade Anderson, Seattle Mariners
   
   Kade Anderson, 21, was the No. 3 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, joining a deep Mariners pitching pipeline. The lefty dominated at LSU, a hotbed for quality arms, and should rocket up the Minor League ladder before long. Anderson's fastball moves a ton and his curve is as good a second pitch as you'll find at his age.

9. RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets
   
   Jonah Tong, 22, made a strong first impression on Mets fans this season, pitching five innings of one-run ball in his first MLB start. The joyful energy and Tim Lincecum-esque release made him a quick favorite. He struggled in later starts, finishing with a 7.71 ERA across 18.2 innings, but we needn't overreact.

10. OF Spencer Jones, New York Yankees
    
    Spencer Jones, 24, has seen his stock fluctuate in recent years, but he finished the season with a .933 OPS and 35 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A competition. The Yankees outfielder has his shortcomings — at 6-foot-7, he has a wide zone, a long swing and strikes out a whole heck of a lot — but his blend of power and speed is special.

11. OF Owen Caissie, Chicago Cubs
    Owen Caissie, 23, is engineered for the modern game — a 6-foot-3 lefty for whom the baseball springs off the barrel. He can generate extreme power to both fields and while he strikes out a fair amount, that is becoming increasingly acceptable for those with Caissie's knack for driving it deep and peppering the outfield green space.

12. OF Carson Benge, New York Mets
    
    Carson Benge, 22, is nearing his MLB debut for the Mets (or the Tigers, who desperately need young sluggers). Benge generates consistent hard contact from the left side. He works deep into counts and is impressively disciplined for such a young player, especially considering the power he's capable of generating.

13. LHP Payton Tolle, Boston Red Sox
    Payton Tolle, 23, started his MLB career on uneven ground as the Red Sox attempted to address depth concerns in their rotation. He put up a 6.06 ERA in 16.1 innings across seven appearances (three starts). Even so, the potential remains sky high. Tolle is built like a tank at 6-foot-6 and gets practically leaps toward the plate, missing bats with a deceptive release angle and a rising fastball.

14. C Moisés Ballesteros, Chicago Cubs
    
    Moisés Ballesteros, 22, made his MLB debut for the Cubs this season and immediately produced, finishing with a .298 average and .868 OPS in 57 at-bats. That is a small sample size, sure, but he's quite the proficient hitter for his age and comes with a heck of a Minor League track record.

15. RHP Carlos Lagrange, New York Yankees
    Carlos Lagrange, 22, stands 6-foot-7 and rips 100 MPH fastballs from a three-quarter arm slot that keeps hitters in the dark. He's slowly expanding the rest of his arsenal, which includes a slider, cutter and changeup. The righty has dealt with injuries since coming over from Dominican Republic, but his intimidating frame and high-velocity, high-strikeout approach offers an incredibly high ceiling if everything breaks right.