If you’re shopping, it’s always tempting to buy the best name-brand product, even if it means spending a bit more than you’d like. The rationale for such a purchase is often something like, well, I’m getting what I paid for. It’s a rationale that many contending clubs are going to tell themselves at this year’s trade deadline, should the scuffling Tigers make ace Tarik Skubal available via trade.
Skubal, a back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, would instantly be the best player available. Plus, during a trade season that figures to have more buyers than sellers due to the crowded standings in each league, the Tigers will be able to deal from a position of power. There will be teams willing to pay such an exorbitant price—namely, any club that believes it’s an ace pitcher away from winning the World Series. But what about pitcher-needy teams that don’t want to pay up for the name brand ace and prefer a starting pitcher of the store brand variety? These are the guys for them.
