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The Detroit Tigers, who occupied first place the American League Central for 187 of the 194 days in the regular season this year, came up short for the second season in a row. Just as they did in 2024, the Tigers were eliminated in a hard-fought AL Division Series that went the full five games. The ALDS this year was particularly painful, with the Tigers being sent home after a 15-inning, Game 5 loss to the Seattle Mariners in a series that was about as close as can be with Detroit scoring a total of 20 runs to Seattle’s 19. VENICE, FLORIDA – MARCH 11: Max Clark #86 and Kevin McGonigle #85 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate scoring on a double hit by Thayron Liranzo during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on March 11, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) In a new trade idea outlined in a piece published on Wednesday, a leading baseball analyst came up with a deal that has the potential to turn the Tigers into an unstoppable powerhouse, particularly in the postseason — at least for one year. What if last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, and likely favorite this year, were paired in a starting rotation with the pitcher who seems to be shoo-in for the Cy Young in the National League this year, and who placed third in the 2024 voting? That is exactly what Bleacher Report analyst Zachary D. Rymer proposed, detailing a trade that would send Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes — who “may be the greatest pitching phenom of all time,” according to Sports Illustrated senior writer and Fox Sports baseball analyst Tom Verducci — to Detroit where he would pair in a rotation, at least for one potential spectacular season, with current Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. But the price for the Tigers would be a steep one. Per Rymer’s proposal, Detroit would ship its top two prospects, shortstop Kevin McGonigle and outfield speedster Max Clark to Pittsburgh in exchange for the generational mound ace. McGonigle and Clark, however, are not just the Tigers’ two top prospects, they are two of the top 10 prospects in baseball, with the 21-year-old McGonigle rated No. 2 overall by MLB Pipeline and Clark, 20, ranked No. 8. More MLB: Pirates Owner Wasting Paul Skenes Era, ‘Should be Embarrassed,’ MLB Analyst Says But why would the Pirates want to part with their ace, who was baseball’s No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023? While Skenes’ early years are apparently being wasted in a Pittsburgh organization that refuses to spend money to create a playoff-contending roster around him, the Pirates could build from within to create a strong team a few years down the road by stockpiling top prospects, Rymer argued. “You can already hear the clock ticking on his time in Pittsburgh, as there’s just no way MLB’s most frugal franchise is going to pay what it’ll take to sign him long-term,” Rymer wrote. “Hence why trade rumors started swirling around Skenes when he was barely more than a year into his major league career. And while the Bucs have thus far refused to give in, they need to seriously consider changing course.” The Pirates already have the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect in baseball with 2024 Gatorade High School Player of the Year Konnor Griffin, a 19-year-old shortstop and outfielder who possesses “five-tool potential coming from his 6-foot-4 frame,” according to an MLB Pipeline scouting report. Adding McGonigle and Clark would give the Pirates three of baseball’s top 10 prospects, and five of the top 30 — with pitcher Bubba Chandler — who made his major league debut this year going 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA in seven outings — ranked No. 14, and 19-year-old right-handed power pitcher Seth Hernandez, the 2025 No. 6 overall draft pick, at No. 27. The cash-conscious Pirates, however, also have a strong disincentive to trade Skenes, who entering his third season is only 23 years old himself. Home attendance at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park has risen as much as 24 percent on days when Skenes pitches. More MLB: Paul Skenes to Red Sox? Insane Trade Thought Pushed by MLB Network Host
