The one Tarik Skubal trade package that gives the Cubs a seat at the table

A season that began with high expectations has quickly gone off the rails and the likelihood of the Detroit Tigers trading reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal feels higher than ever.

Poised for a potentially historic foray into free agency this winter (that could admittedly be complicated by the end of the CBA and a potential lockout) the left-hander now represents the prize of the trade deadline, with any team with a pitching need licking their lips at the idea of adding him to their mix for a postseason push.

There's no question that the Chicago Cubs need major reinforcements in the rotation. With Cade Horton out for the year and real questions over when, or even if, Justin Steele will pitch again this year, Jed Hoyer has no choice but to rectify his failed summer goal from last year and land a big-time arm.

Skubal, obviously, checks that box in a big way - even as a rental. A rental he may be, but that doesn't mean the Cubs are going to get him for nothing. With a farm system that lacks any healthy high-upside arms, that means Hoyer may have to do the unthinkable: include Ben Brown in the package, just as he finally seems to be living up to his potential.

Here's what a potential trade framework could look like.

In this trade, the Cubs package Brown with utilityman and former first-rounder Matt Shaw, along with Josiah Hartshorn, the organization's #8-ranked prospect and Grant Kipp, their #28 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Again, I think this is enough to at least get the Cubs' foot in the door, but it's hard to compete with a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are expected to be a top suitor for Skubal, and boast one of the best prospect groups in the game.

Series of major injuries have tied one hand behind Jed Hoyer's back

It's not only the injuries to Horton and Steele (not to mention Matthew Boyd) that have put the Cubs in an unenviable position two-ish months out from the trade deadline. The team's top pitching prospect, Jaxon Wiggins, remains sidelined, and there are real questions about his long-term health outlook. If he were healthy and pitching well, you can bet he'd be a top trade piece.

Instead, he's a non-factor, which could force Hoyer into a game of addition by subtraction, removing Brown - arguably the team's best arm right now - if he wants to make a serious run at someone like Skubal. Safe to say, between the injuries and the team's recent 10-game skid, the situation is far murkier than it was in early May as we head into the summer months.

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