The Boston Red Sox could be in the market for an elite starting pitcher. Earlier this month, Craig Breslow said the team would only pursue starting pitchers who can pitch in the top half of their rotation.
Tarik Skubal’s name is floating around in trade rumors, and he would undoubtedly make the Red Sox’s rotation even better. However, Red Sox insider Sean McAdam urged the Red Sox not to trade for Skubal.
“If the Sox — or other teams — were getting two years of control of Skubal, it might be something to consider,” McAdam wrote on Friday for MassLive. “Two full seasons with a 1-2 punch of Skubal and Garrett Crochet could translate to two shots at a championship. But for a single season? What if Skubal has a minor injury — something that could hardly be ruled out? Then, the Red Sox would be looking at perhaps 25 starts in exchange for at least three top prospects.”
McAdam also warned against dealing with Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras. Historically, he has urged his clients to hit the open market instead of signing an extension. This would virtually guarantee that the Red Sox will have to engage in a bidding war to retain Skubal next winter.
Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He has won back-to-back Cy Young Awards and has a 2.30 ERA and 469 strikeouts in the last two seasons. The Tigers have historically not spent money at the level required to retain Skubal, which is why his name is being mentioned in trade rumors.
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Skubal will likely be looking for a deal that makes him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball. His next deal could reach $400 million, and while the Red Sox are a team that could meet his demands, trading for him now would cost them greatly in prospects. Simply put, one year of control for what it will take to land him may not be worth it.
“And yes, the Red Sox — or another acquiring team – could give Skubal a qualifying offer after 2026 that would give them additional compensation if he were to sign elsewhere,” wrote McAdam. “But until the new CBA is negotiated, there’s no telling what would that be. If the same compensation system were in place, the Sox would get nothing better than a fourth-round pick, based on their overage when it comes to the CBT threshold.”
