Chicago Cubs’ trade price for Tarik Skubal revealed by MLB insider

The Chicago Cubs were one of the best teams in baseball about a month ago and seemed like the most prominent threats to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers. My, how things have changed.

Since stringing together their second 10-game winning streak of the season, which between April 28 and May 8, the Cubs have gone just 5-18, falling into fourth place in the NL Central division. They are now six-and-a-half games behind the Milwaukee Brewers — eight in the loss column — for first place, and even their Wild Card hopes are in distress.

A litany of problems have plagued Chicago over the last four weeks, but the most notable of all has been its starting pitching.

The Cubs have one of the worst rotations in baseball, and while injuries have certainly played a role, Chicago’s staff isn’t overly impressive even when healthy.

A trade deadline move is expected, and the Cubs could potentially zero in on one big fish: Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal. But what would be the cost to acquire the two-time Cy Young award winner? ESPN’s Jeff Passan has revealed what it may take.

Chicago Cubs’ trade package for Tarik Skubal revealed

Because Skubal is slated to hit free agency next winter, the Tigers can’t expect to get the king’s ransom they would have received had they moved him during the offseason. But they will still likely get quite a bit in return, and Passan feels Chicago may have to part with a pair of its top young players.

“So, yeah, if Skubal costs Matt Shaw, it’s the price to pay. If Detroit would prefer Moises Ballesteros, so be it. If the Tigers want both, it shouldn’t be dismissed outright,” Passan wrote.

Shaw has been a super-utility man for the Cubs this season, spending time as an outfielder and at second base, third base and even third base. Now in his second big-league season, Shaw hasn’t hit like Chicago hoped, owning a .691 OPS through 104 plate appearances in 2026. That’s nearly identical to his .690 OPS across 437 trips to the dish last year.

However, Shaw is still just 24 years old and has plenty of value, so Detroit may ask for him in a Skubal package.

Meanwhile, Ballesteros got off to a red-hot start this season but has cooled off considerably and is now batting just .229 with a .709 OPS. That being said, he clearly has significant potential with the bat and may be of interest to the Tigers.

Jaxon Wiggins and Kevin Alcantara are certainly other names to watch, as well.

You just have to wonder if the Cubs have enough juice to win the Skubal sweepstakes.

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