As the New York Mets set their sights on a potential 2026 World Series run, they know strengthening their rotation this offseason is the first thing to do. The Detroit Tigers could actually help the Mets with that. Adding an ace like Tarik Skubal might just complete David Stearns’ “championship puzzle.” However, with the AL rivals now emerging as serious contenders to land him, the Mets’ chances of bringing him to Queens are slipping away.

Apparently, the Detroit Tigers could send Tarik Skubal to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Walker Jenkins, Kendry Rojas, and Connor Prielipp.

It’s only happened once in MLB history that a pitcher owning back-to-back Cy Young Awards gets traded. That was Roger Clemens, who moved from the Blue Jays to the Yankees after dominating in 1997 and 1998.

The Tigers will be asking for a massive return for Skubal. But it’s unlikely any team would give up a stack of top prospects for just one year of an ace who’s expected to cost around $20 million. Still, imagine if the Twins actually went all in.

As Kerry Miller pointed out, the Twins could actually trade away their No. 1, 5, and 9 prospects in pursuit of Skubal’s arm. That would be insane, but it makes sense given that they’re chasing their first ALCS appearance in 24 years.

If the Twins managed to land Tarik Skubal, their rotation would feature him alongside Joe Ryan, Pablo López, Bailey Ober, and Taj Bradley. That would form a rotation that could easily rank among the best in the league.

For the Tigers, the proposed deal would bring in three of the Twins’ top prospects, all developing on a similar timeline. It’ll give them a solid foundation for the future. While a trade like this might not be likely, it’s certainly something the Detroit Tigers should at least consider exploring.

Scott Boras could play a major role in shaping the Tigers–Twins deal for Tarik Skubal

By now, it’s widely known that Tarik Skubal is represented by Scott Boras. He’s famous for squeezing every last dollar out of the market for his top clients. And with Skubal, Boras has another golden opportunity to land a massive payday. Both for his client and himself.

That’s exactly why a contract extension with Detroit seems unlikely. No matter how much the Tigers might want it, Boras has a history of betting on the open market and winning big. Take Juan Soto’s example, for instance. A year ago, he was projected to get around $600 million, but Boras helped him walk away with an incredible $765 million deal.

One of Scott Boras’ go-to tactics for boosting his clients’ value is using the media to his advantage. From floating reports to trading favors to stirring up buzz to raise interest or spark debate. According to Fansided, in the insider world, information is currency, and few are as well-connected as Boras.

That brings us to Jon Heyman. His long-standing relationship with Boras is no secret. Some even joke that he’s Boras’s unofficial spokesperson. In all fairness, Heyman isn’t the only reporter who gets stories straight from agents. However, as per reports, in this case, it’s worth remembering where his “scoops” might be coming from.