Cubs can solve one major 2026 trade deadline problem this week against Tigers

The Chicago Cubs may have done themselves a favor over the weekend, taking two of three against the Minnesota Twins, hopefully pushing the Twins closer to the idea of trading Joe Ryan before the trade deadline. There's a similar task facing the Cubs over the next three days.

Arriving at Wrigley Field for a three-game set this week are the Detroit Tigers. After looking like one of baseball's worst teams in May, the Tigers have been on the upswing in recent weeks. The Tigers are winners of seven of their last ten games, and while they are still 46-53, chasing down the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central isn't an impossible ask.

Still, trailing the White Sox by 6.5 games, if the Tigers stumble over these next two weeks, that would seemingly put them in a position to trade Tarik Skubal. That is why these next three games could be important for the Cubs.

As crazy as it sounds, the Cubs are now routinely being mentioned as a suitor for Skubal. It started with the New York Post's Jon Heyman last Friday, and continued with ESPN's Jeff Passan putting the Cubs among the teams to watch for Skubal.

Cubs' Tarik Skubal trade wish may hinge on silencing Tigers' false hope

For the Cubs, or any team chasing Skubal at the deadline, the hope is that the Tigers are left with no choice but to deal away their ace. The impression is that as along as Detroit feels there could be a chance they can reach the playoffs, Skubal will stay put.

It would be a bold strategy, considering the Tigers risk losing Skubal for nothing but a compensation pick this offseason, but it's also one their offseason may have dictated. The Tigers are paying Skubal over $30 million after their arbitration loss and immediately followed up that with a historic signing of Framber Valdez. For those moves to be followed up with Skubal being traded by August 3, that would be a terrible look for the front office.

But if the idea of the Tigers remaining in contention is outside of the realm of possibility, just about everyone would understand the logic behind trading Skubal.

The onus is now on the Cubs. If Skubal is a true target, end the false hope that has been how the Tigers have played in recent weeks. Of course, that doesn't make the Cubs the favorites to land Skubal, but it should give them a seat at the table.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow