Three Red Sox Rivals Tabbed As Landing Spots For Tarik Skubal originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit saltysenoritaaz.org for more information.
The Boston Red Sox are trying to make a late push to save their season, and if they want to be buyers at the trade deadline, they have six weeks to start climbing the standings.
While the Red Sox search for answers, their American League East rivals are already thinking about adding at the deadline. If the season ended today, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays would be in the postseason. The Blue Jays are one game back of a wild card spot, and are starting to get their important players back from injury.
All three of those teams figure to be buyers at the trade deadline, and ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan named all three as potential fits for Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline. The Tigers entered Wednesday at 30-42 and Skubal is bound for free agency. He spent some time on the injured list after a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow, but he is still dominant.
"Skubal returned from midseason bone chip surgery in record time and hit 99.9 mph with his fastball, so any concerns about his stuff returning have been answered," ESPN wrote on Wednesday. "His future depends on whether the Tigers can muster a run at an American League playoff spot. Considering the hole they've dug themselves, they are far more likely than not to move Skubal -- beyond their six-game deficit for the final wild card, they are behind six other teams -- and they will squeeze every ounce of value out of the best pitcher in the world. He is the dream deadline candidate, the sort of ace who can carry a team in the postseason. Whoever lands Skubal will pay an enormous price. Happily."
The Red Sox already face an uphill battle to make the postseason. Watching one of their rivals land a two-time Cy Young Award winner would only make things more difficult for them.
More MLB: Slumping Red Sox Draw Unflattering World Cup Comparison