SerpApi.Org
Red Sox’s perfect trade offer for Tigers’ Tarik Skubal appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox started the season 10-17, leading to them firing Alex Cora as the manager. They were still six games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League in mid-June. Now, they are in a position to make the playoffs thanks to a 14-game winning streak. There would be no better way to improve the roster than to add Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. What the Tigers need in return for Skubal has been made clear, and the Red Sox have the perfect parts to make the trade.
The Tigers are flush with prospects in the infield, but they need some for the outfield. Meanwhile, if the team is going to move on from their star pitcher, they will expect a pitcher in return who is MLB-ready. Considering that multiple teams are going to be vying for the services of the Cy Young pitcher, just two players in return is not going to be enough for the deal to cross the finish line.
Meanwhile, a deal has to make sense for both sides. While adding a player like Skubal would take the Red Sox from fighting for a playoff spot to a potential contender, he is set to be a free agent at the end of the year. With much uncertainty around the future of MLB due to the contentious collective bargaining negotiations with the players’ association, the Red Sox also need to be comfortable with the deal not just for this year but for the future.
Regardless, where there is a will, there is a way, and the Red Sox would like nothing more than to not only grab Skubal, but keep him away from rivals.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
The Tigers get Kristian Campbell
Of the Tigers’ top ten prospects, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, just one of them is an outfielder. That is their top prospect, Max Clark. Meanwhile, six players are in the infield, and there are three pitchers. The team needs a solid outfield prospect. Enter Kristian Campbell. He played 67 games with the MLB club in 2025, hitting .223 with a .319 on-base percentage. He also had six home runs and 21 RBIs. While not amazing numbers, the then-23-year-old was solid. Still, he played 59 of his games at second base, a position that the Tigers do not need.
Campbell has changed this year. While playing for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, he has played all but seven games in the outfield. In each of those games, he was the DH, not seeing time in the infield this year. Meanwhile, he is hitting .220 with a .353 on-base percentage. He also has driven in 25 runs in 74 games.
Campbell is a prospect who is improving defensively at his new position, while also improving at the plate. He already has great speed and understanding of the strike zone. With added power, he could become a top-of-the-order bat that can put up 20-home-run and 20-stolen-base seasons, which would fill a major need for the Tigers. You add in his positional flexibility, and his value just climbs.
An MLB-ready pitcher heads to Detroit
The Tigers want a starting pitcher ready for the majors in return for Skubal. They will likely be asking for Payton Tolle. Tolle has been solid in his 16 starts this year. He is 5-6 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Meanwhile, his 3.24 FIP shows he may be pitching even better than his metrics show. Regardless, the Red Sox will likely want to keep the 23-year-old Tolle, who is still in his rookie campaign.
This is where Connelly Early comes into play. The 24-year-old left-handed pitcher would be perfect in a trade for Skubal. Like Tolle, he has been solid for the Sox this season. In 17 starts, he is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA. He is also doing a solid job of limiting the long ball while striking out 9.1 batters per nine innings of work. His FIP is slightly higher than that of Tolle, and a small regression could be coming, but much of that could even out with time.
His worst innings have come later in starts when he is facing a team a third time through. This is when his fastball is dropping from the 93-94 mph range into the 90-91 mph range. If he can learn to keep his velocity up later in games, he will have the ability to eat innings in the middle of any rotation. Further, he has a plus quality changeup, combined with an above-average sweeper plus above-average control. Right now, he would be a fourth or fifth starter, but as he matures, he could be a second or third starter for the Tigers.
Justin Gonzalez gets the deal over the top
Justin Gonzalez is the sweetener to the deal that can get the Red Sox Skubal. Like Campbell, Gonzalez has positional versatility. In his time in the minors, he has played all three outfield positions while also playing first base. While the Tigers have plenty of depth in the prospect line in the infield, none of them play first base currently, although Josue Briceno is projected to play there. Still, with the ability to play first and all three outfield positions, this could be a huge snag. Further, Gonzalez has a cannon of an arm. With Clark being the center fielder of the future, Gonzalez would fit perfectly in right field, allowing Kerry Carpenter to DH, or Riley Greene.
Gonzalez is not major league ready, though. The 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic has never played above the High-A level in the minors, currently playing for the Greenville Drive. Regardless, he is playing well there. The outfielder is hitting .256 with a .372 on-base percentage. Further, he has shown both power and speed this year. The Dominican has six stolen bases to go with his 12 home runs and 27 RBIs. He has raw power that could develop into elite ability. Further, he is a physically imposing person, coming in at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds. While not major league ready, he is a top-quality prospect, currently sitting third in the Red Sox system.
The Red Sox are now 51-48 on the season and continue to climb the power rankings. Adding a pitcher like Skubal, without losing core pieces, could put them near the top.
Like ClutchPoints’ content? Be sure to follow us.
Related: Red Sox rumors: Jeff Passan makes ‘aggressive’ trade deadline prediction
Related: Red Sox receives unfortunate injury update during incredible winning streak
