Insider reveals steep Tarik Skubal price that could kill Cubs' trade hopes

With there being a large gap in contract talks between Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers, every Major League team is likely planning on giving the Tigers a call this offseason. The Tigers have downplayed the idea that they will be trading Skubal this offseason, but if no progress is made on a possible extension, the trade rumors will only grow louder.

The Chicago Cubs almost certainly will check the box of seeing what the Tigers' asking price would be, but for those who thought the team gave up a haul for Kyle Tucker, a trade package for Skubal would far exceed that cost. Skubal will be winning his second consecutive Cy Young Award in the coming weeks, and was at the center of the Tigers' success last season.

The Tigers, who spent most of the 2025 regular season as the best team in baseball, still have an open contention window. In other words, if they trade Skubal, adding a talent who can help them immediately would be a requirement. For Cubs fans to get a sense of what that means, MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis revealed two names who might be in the deal.

"Going all in if the Tigers decide they can't afford Tarik Skubal would make sense, but that package might have to start with Cade Horton and Matt Shaw."

Cubs' Skubal dream hinges on two names they’re unlikely to give up

For context, when the Cubs were looking for a controllable top-of-the-rotation pitcher at this past season's trade deadline, teams were asking for Cade Horton and Matt Shaw. Considering Horton and Shaw were two key components to the Cubs' playoff run, Jed Hoyer wasn't willing to make that deal.

If Skubal was under contract beyond the 2026 season, then there is a case to be made that the Cubs should be willing to give up Horton and Shaw in a trade. As it stands, Skubal is a free agent after next season and is in line for a contract north of $400MM. There isn't a scenario where the Cubs would be expected to give that deal to Skubal if they were to trade for him.

In other words, like was the case with the Tucker last offseason, the Cubs would be adding the Tigers' ace with the impression that they will only have him for one season.

Skubal is the unquestioned white whale of the offseason, but it feels like the Cubs will be looking at the next tier of pitchers who could be traded this winter. A group that includes Joe Ryan, MacKenzie Gore, Sandy Alcantara, and Edward Cabrera.