Why The Cubs Landing Tarik Skubal Is Not Logical
Detroit's ace could ignite a frantic bidding war, but Chicago's thin farm system and Jed Hoyer's cautious history likely leave the North Siders trailing powerhouse rivals.
Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And it's becoming more and more likely that the Detroit Tigers could trade away Tarik Skubal at this year's trade deadline, with the Tigers 12 games under .500 and 10 games back in the American League Central Division.
Skubal could be moved by the August 3rd trade deadline.
If he is eventually placed on the trade block, many contending teams are going to call the Tigers about Skubal.
But will one of those teams be the Chicago Cubs?
Do the Chicago Cubs have a realistic shot at landing Skubal at this year's trade deadline?
Well, we've heard some conflicting reports in recent days.
One is from Bob Nightengale that said he's heard from rival executives that the Padres, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Dodgers are gonna be the finalists in the bidding war for Skubal this summer.
There's no mention there of the Cubs.
Then you go to Jon Heyman, another MLB insider, and he said that he has the Cubs as the number one team to land Skubal at this year's trade deadline.
You got one, one insider saying the Cubs are not gonna be in the bidding war for Skubal, the other one saying the Cubs are his number one team to land Skubal.
So can the Cubs actually land Skubal?
My take is that I think it's gonna be tough knowing where the Cubs are at with their prospect in their farm system.
They don't have the talent in the farm system some of the teams like the Dodgers do, the Blue Jays do, the Yankees do.
They just don't have it.
They have three prospects, none inside the top 75, and three prospects inside the top 100, so they just don't have the level of prospect talent as some of the other teams do.
Secondly, Jed Hoyer has known not to be so aggressive at recent trade deadlines.
Look at last year.
He didn't really acquire a top-of-the-line starting pitcher, was hesitant to give up top prospects to get one.
Resulted in the Cubs landing Michael Soroka, and the Cubs were still an arm short in October.
So knowing where the Cubs are at in their farm system and knowing Jed Hoyer's ways of operating, it's, it seems unlikely the Cubs to land Skubal at this year's trade deadline.
It's, again, it's hard to imagine the Cubs outbidding teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers.
Knowing those teams are gonna go all in to acquire a pitcher like Skubal.
Let me know what you guys think about Skubal though.
Do you think the Cubs can actually land him?
Let me know down below.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.
