The Cubs are sniffing around the trade market like pretty much everyone else. And Tarik Skubal’s name keeps coming up. That makes sense. The guy’s a lefty ace with stuff that plays in any division, and Detroit is at that point where you have to wonder if they’re better off cashing in now.
But here’s the thing about Chicago specifically. They’ve got two things working in their favor that most other teams don’t, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
The Front Office Connection
Cubs president Jed Hoyer and Tigers GM Scott Harris go way back. Like, 2016 World Series ring way back. Harris started his career at Wrigley Field under Theo Epstein’s regime, and now he’s running Detroit with a similar data-heavy, process-driven approach. That matters because these two guys speak the same language. They don’t have to spend weeks figuring out each other’s negotiating style. They’ve been there.
Mooney wrote that Hoyer has a close, longstanding relationship with Harris. That doesn’t guarantee a deal gets done, but it sure greases the skids when you’re trying to hammer out a trade seven days before the deadline.
The Arizona Factor
Skubal has deep roots in Arizona. We’re not talking about a guy who rented a place for two springs. He’s got actual ties to the state. And the Cubs hold spring training in Mesa. That’s not nothing for a player who’s going to hit free agency after next season and will have to decide where he wants to spend the next chunk of his career.
If the Cubs acquire him now, they get a head start on that recruiting pitch. They can show him what life looks like in their organization before Scott Boras sits him down to field offers from 15 other teams. It’s a foot in the door. A seven-month head start on the sales pitch.
The Real Question
None of this matters if the Cubs aren’t willing to pay the price. And the price for Skubal is going to be steep. We’re talking about a pitcher who could anchor a rotation for years. Detroit isn’t going to give him away for a couple of lottery tickets.
The Cubs would almost certainly have to gut the top of their farm system to make this work. That’s a real conversation in the front office. Is this the year to push all the chips in? Or do you hold onto your prospects and hope the division stays winnable without making a blockbuster?
The clock is ticking. The deadline is days away. And Skubal is the kind of arm that can change a team’s trajectory overnight. The connections are there. The question is whether the Cubs have the stomach for the price tag.
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