Skubal doesn't want to be traded: 'Why am I in these conversations?'

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is uncertain why he's the focus of trade rumors on the heels of winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards.

"The way social media is, it's hard not to see things about yourself, especially when it's talking about trades and all of those hypotheticals," Skubal said during an appearance on "Foul Territory."

"It's not like I want to be traded, so it's kind of like, why am I in these conversations?"

Skubal is entering the final season of his current deal with the Tigers before potentially entering free agency. He's been arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball over the past two campaigns, prompting suggestions that his price tag might be too rich for Detroit. The Tigers, whose payroll was around $160 million last season, reportedly offered the left-hander a four-year extension worth less than $100 million in 2024.

While MLB insider and former general manager Jim Bowden believes the Tigers need to start extension conversations with Skubal and his agent Scott Boras at $350 million, the southpaw said he "doesn't really know where they come up with these" contract valuations.

Skubal won his second Cy Young in 2025 after posting an AL-best 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings for the Tigers.