Report: Tigers willing to trade Skubal, 'just about everyone'

The Detroit Tigers are open for business.

After a dismal start to the season, the fifth-place Tigers are willing to listen to offers for left-handed starter Tarik Skubal and "just about everyone," a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Skubal is a surprising name to pop up in trade rumors as the 25-year-old lefty has four more years of team control beyond this season. Even further, after he struggled at the major-league level for two years, Skubal has seemed to take a step forward and show what made him such an interesting prospect by posting a 3.88 ERA and 2.93 FIP over 19 starts.

Aside from being a young and controllable ascendant starter, Skubal could also produce substantial interest for other reasons. There's a relative dearth of top-end starting pitcher depth on this year's trade market, with Luis Castillo and Frankie Montas as the most likely top names to be moved. Plus, more teams will be looking for rotation help due to postseason expansion.

The Tigers were expected to threaten for a wild-card spot after signing left-hander starter Eduardo Rodriguez to a five-year, $77-million contract and shortstop Javier Baez to a six-year, $140-million deal mere months ago.

No other players were specifically mentioned in Rosenthal's report, though veteran outfielder Robbie Grossman and southpaw reliever Andrew Chafin have previously been seen as clear trade candidates.