The Yankees’ 2025 campaign ended in disappointment. And one of the most glaring issues? Arms. Gerrit Cole missed the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Max Fried carried the rotation alone. The message is clear: they need another ace. As per the insider voices, that ace is Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, and acquiring him could do more than fix the rotation—it could fundamentally shift the clubhouse power structure.

Skubal will hit the free agent market in 2026, making him the most coveted arm on the trade block. The Tigers understand his value, but they also see the financial reality ahead. The 28-year-old lefthander posted a 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 2025. Detroit may hesitate to commit the kind of money Skubal will command, especially with Buster Olney projecting a $400 million contract when he reaches free agency.

The Yankees represent one of the few franchises that can afford him and offer a legitimate championship window.

“The Yankees should do everything they can to acquire Tarik Skubal and give him a taste of the Bronx. They are already one of the very few teams that can pay him, so having him in the Bronx for a year before he hits free agency will only boost their chances of locking up the lefty superstar long term,” noted one trade proposal circulating among baseball insiders.

The question extends beyond roster construction into clubhouse dynamics. Cole has been the NYY unquestioned ace since signing his nine-year, $324 million deal in 2020. He won the 2023 Cy Young Award and established himself as the staff leader. But missing an entire season changes things. Players lose timing, veterans lose relevance, and franchises adjust their plans accordingly.

“Detroit’s No. 1 starter is the favorite to win the 2025 AL Cy Young Award. He would be the ace of almost any pitching staff in the league. Except the Yankees’. He and Gerrit Cole would form the league’s best one-two punch on the mound and dominate the competition if they stay healthy,” Howell, the baseball analyst, wrote.

Well, being healthy matters. Gerrit Cole will be 35 when he returns from Tommy John surgery, with no guarantees he’ll recapture his previous form. Skubal enters his prime years with momentum, health, and electric stuff that makes hitters uncomfortable.

The shift in influence wouldn’t happen through confrontation but through performance.

The Yankees don’t just need Skubal for wins in 2026. They need him to prove their championship window remains open and their front office can still acquire difference-makers. Yes, in the offseason, they signed Fried but lost depth.

However, a year of reactive moves won’t cut it for Cashman and Boone.

Baseball’s economics make this pursuit inevitable. The Yankees need pitching. Skubal needs a market-setting contract. And if Skubal lands in pinstripes, the Bronx gains an ace while one of its stars quietly adjusts to a new reality.

But acquiring Skubal isn’t just about the Yankees’ willingness—it depends on Detroit’s position. As trade speculation intensifies, the Tigers’ front office stance becomes clearer.

Yankees poised, Tigers poised — is the trade inevitable?

Detroit has shown calculated financial flexibility this season, potentially setting the stage for a blockbuster move. Scott Harris said, “I can’t say anything about our players being traded. I can’t comment on free agents. I can’t comment on other teams’ players. I’m going to respond by just not actually commenting on it.”

The Tigers’ competitive-balance-tax payroll at the end of last season was $107.7 million. They then projected their total for 2025 to be $171.6 million, which is a climb of about $67 million, or 62.1%, the biggest percentage increase in MLB. That big jump shows that Detroit is “at least willing to consider getting back to spending like they did from 2007-17.” Yet the question remains: will they invest that money in keeping Skubal, or cash in while his value peaks?

For Gerrit Cole, the implications are unavoidable. A healthy, dominant Skubal in pinstripes doesn’t just strengthen the rotation—it creates a new pecking order. The Tigers’ financial situation and front-office attitude suggest they’re open to change.

If the New York Yankees make an offer that matches the ambition, a deal including Skubal might not be as far-fetched as it seems. And when that happens, Cole’s return from surgery may coincide with a very different clubhouse reality.