Bob Nightengale thinks Tarik Skubal trade chances skyrocketed after Tigers’ Orioles loss

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal potentially played his final game with the franchise on Wednesday. With speculation running rampant that he may be traded before the August 3 deadline, it appears MLB insider Bob Nightengale is convinced a deal will come to fruition after the club suffered a brutal loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Before the contest began, Nightengale proclaimed that there is an 80% chance that the Tigers trade the 29-year-old left-hander before the deadline. While guest appearing on “Foul Territory,” Nightengale believes that Detroit being just on the outside looking in on the playoff race, the front office may pull the trigger.

“I think about 80% chance, if not a little higher,” Nightengale said when asked what percentage chance he thinks Detroit will trade Skubal. I just think with the way they’ve been playing, being six games under .500, they have no choice.”

"With the way they've been playing, being six games under .500, they have no choice."@BNightengale gives it an "80% chance, if not a little higher," that Tarik Skubal gets traded. pic.twitter.com/ATeqLJIc1R

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 29, 2026

But after the loss to the Orioles, Nightengale bumped the number up from 80% to 99%. The Tigers had a 7-0 lead by the time manager AJ Hinch pulled Tarik Skubal off the mound. Detroit went on to completely blow it, falling to Baltimore 10-9 in extra innings. The longtime MLB insider seems to believe that Skubal getting traded is inevitable.

“Make it 99%,” Nightengale said on X. “The Tigers blow 7-run lead and lose 10-9 in 12 innings to the Orioles.”

In fact, the only way he thinks it would make sense for the organization to keep the two-time Cy Young Award winner on the roster would be if the Tigers made moves to drastically improve the bullpen. Otherwise, Nightengale thinks the fanbase should say “sayonara” to Skubal.

“The Detroit Tigers were cruising with a 7-0 lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the 7th inning with Tarik Skubal on the mound. It is now 7-7. It would make no sense for the Tigers to keep Skubal now unless they made moves to dramatically improve their bullpen,” Nightenale said.

The USA Today sports columnist could just be reacting to the poor effort from the Tigers after the seven-year veteran came off the mound. MLB analyst Jim Duquette offered a more optimistic take on the situation on Wednesday, claiming that Detroit has been trending up since its poor play in May. So much so that he thinks the front office may reconsider trading Tarik Skubal.

Only time will tell what happens with Skubal and Detroit. The franchise has until 6 p.m. EST on Friday to make a decision about the ace pitcher and the future of the Tigers.

The post Bob Nightengale thinks Tarik Skubal trade chances skyrocketed after Tigers’ Orioles loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.