This week's mailbag includes questions on Tarik Skubal, Nick Castellanos, Ian Happ, Pablo Lopez, and much more.
Abner asks:
The Tarik Skubal trade rumors dominated the news during the past weekend. The NY Mets has been mentioned as a possible destination for the Detroit Tigers' ace. But what would be a realistic prospect capital cost the Mets will have to live with if they really want to get a guy as talented as Skubal (even for just 1 year of team control)? Now, Freddy Peralta could also be available in the trade market, and he for sure should be a more affordable option than Skubal. Knowing the way David Stearns values the farm system of the team and his connection with the Brewers, which trade has more probability to get done , a trade for Peralta or a trade for Skubal? Thanks in advance.
There's never been any indication Skubal and the Tigers were close on a contract extension, nor is there a sign the team's willingness to trade him has changed. Steve Adams and I differ on the likelihood of an offseason trade happening. In a discussion last week, Steve pegged the chances of a Skubal trade this winter at 0.25%. I'm more in the range of 5-10%.
Steve wrote in his live chat yesterday, "I think the Tigers would be crazy to truly make Skubal available. They’re just not going to be better in 2026 without him, regardless of the return, unless you’re just banking on Skubal getting hurt. He’s the best pitcher in baseball (sorry, Paul Skenes, but you can be No. 2 for now). I would absolutely just ride out the year and try to sign him in free agency. The draft pick after the first round isn’t nothing, and if the Tigers are earnest about being in a World Series window right now, then trading Skubal isn’t something I’d spend much time entertaining. Let teams make the crazy offers, sure, but they’d have to be offered something outrageous to consider it."
My stance is that I can't peer into the mind of Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch. Some owners do trade superstar players in the offseason before their walk year if they determine they cannot sign him. We've seen it with Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and others. I think Steve might say that Skubal is different from those players, the teams are in somewhat different spots, and/or their owners had different philosophies.
I find Skubal unlikely to be traded this winter, but it wouldn't shock me.
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Trading Skubal iant an actual rumor its just a thought that originated from some fan of one of the big market teams and then this site panders to it because those teams have lots of fans.
Skubal isn’t available. At all. This isnt a rebuilding club its a contender.
Though I’m a Mets fan, it is ridiculous how much ink is being spilled on the subject when there’s very little chance the Tigers trade him. So you’re right and I refuse to read the many speculations which are worthless. Having said that, I disagree with Mr. Dierkes. McLean himself has real ace potential and they’d be crazy to trade him. His starts this year were better than “very good”.
The Mets have shown an unwillingness to trade their prospects. In fact when they traded away Verlander and Scherzer they ate a bunch of salary in the deals in order to get prospects back. This strategy should set them up for contending long term although it didnt work in 2025.
I’m not sure Castellanos has a future in MLB. His mutiny against the most mild mannered manager in the game was really disappointing especially during a playoff run.
Not only that but he is completely lost at the plate. When you’re one of the very worst defenders and baserunners in all of MLB there’s nothing left but hitting and what you bring to the clubhouse. He fails miserably in all four. I will be shocked if the Phillies move him even if they eat significantly more than half his $20M salary.
And I didn’t hear that Steve or Tim think it’s very realistic either. But you can’t know any more than they know, You saying there is a ZERO.chance is just your opinion. Now I tend to agree it ain’t gonna happen. But keep in mind this site is trying to make money and the way you do that is through eyeballs. And there are a lot of eyeballs willing to click on any Skubal rumor. Its just a fact.