4:32pm: Skubal is set to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache next week, reports Chris McCosky of the Detroit News (Twitter link). The 25-year-old is alarmingly dealing with some form of elbow injury, although Hinch declined to speculate as to whether surgery was a possibility until the results of next week’s testing became apparent. McCosky adds that Skubal will not return to the mound in 2022 in any event.
3:03pm: The Tigers announced Friday that they’ve transferred lefty Tarik Skubal from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. The move opens a spot on the roster for lefty Daniel Norris, whose contract has been formally selected from Triple-A Toledo (as previously reported). It also casts doubt on whether Skubal will return at all in the 2022 season. Since he was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 2, there’s still technically time for him to get back for the final week of games in early October — but today’s move makes that look fairly unlikely.
It’s a fairly surprising shift for Skubal, who was placed on the injured list due to general arm fatigue. Skubal was lifted from his final start of the season after five efficient innings and downplayed any severity, telling the Tigers beat that he anticipated making his next start. Instead, it’s now possible that he won’t pitch in a game until next season. The Tigers didn’t provide any further updates on Skubal’s health beyond the move to the 60-day IL, though manager AJ Hinch will presumably divulge some additional context prior to tonight’s game.
If Skubal’s season is indeed over, it was a strong breakout year for the former top prospect. The 25-year-old will fall shy of last year’s 149 2/3 innings, but in the 117 2/3 frames he managed during the 2022 campaign, Skubal worked to a 3.52 ERA with a 24.5% strikeout rate, a strong 6.7% walk rate and a solid 45.7% grounder rate. Most importantly, he maintained the generally sharp strikeout and walk rates he’d displayed in 2021 while dramatically scaling back his home-run rate (2.11 HR/9 in 2021; 0.69 HR/9 in 2022). If Skubal can continue to miss bats, limit walks, keep the ball on the ground and limit home runs in this capacity, there’s room for even greater improvement (as evidenced by his hearty 2.97 FIP).
Whether there’s another gear for Skubal or this is roughly his peak output, he’s solidified himself as at least a quality mid-rotation option for Hinch in the coming years. Though there was talk of the Tigers being willing to at least listen to offers on the lefty before the Aug. 2 trade deadline, the Tigers would’ve required an exorbitant haul to part with him given that he’s still under team control for another four seasons beyond the current campaign. Given the current uncertainty regarding his arm, it’s difficult to imagine those talks being revisited this winter, as the Tigers — who’ll be operating under a new general manager after firing Al Avila yesterday — would be selling low on the heels of a lengthy IL stay.
As for what the Tigers’ rotation will look like moving forward, it’s practically anyone’s guess. Skubal joins Casey Mize and Spencer Turnbull (Tommy John surgery in both cases) as key rotation pieces on the 60-day injured list. The Tigers are currently also without Michael Pineda, Beau Brieske and Rony Garcia (injured list) and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (rehabbing following a lengthy stay on the restricted list while dealing with a reported marital issue). That’s left the Tigers with Norris, Matt Manning, Tyler Alexander, journeyman Drew Hutchison and rookie Garrett Hill as options for the time being. With little certainty among that quintet, there figures to be additional rotation tumult in the final weeks of the year.
Hello, Newman
Ohh great, just keep piling it on..
Captain Judge99
So glad the Yankees didn’t trade for him, but they shouldn’t of traded Jordan Montgomery either. This Bader kid is hurt right now. That trade was stupid.
Hello, Newman
Hindsight is always 20-20.
Maybe I am being a homer, but I have more faith in Skubal than literally any other player on this team. No Tiger has shown any kind of emotion like he had this year. Haase has some fire.
But, I too am glad they didn’t trade him. I agree I do not understand the Montgomery move. But, I said the same abou IFK
Hello, Newman
– move
Captain Judge99
@Hello, Newman- Well I’m okay with IKF defensively, he’s just holding the fort for Oswald Peraza, who should be up with the Yankees shortly. It would make no sense to not trade him for Luis Castillo, and not call him up. He’s been raking at AAA. Peraza is the Yankees shortstop of the future, with Anthony Volpe likely moving over to 2nd base in the majors.
You Can Put It In The Books
…assuming both players pan out….
Jobba11
I assume your a tiger fan? I’m just curious as a Jays fan who mostly follows only Al east , I saw after the GM firing it was said tigers have one of the worst minor ranking in MLB? That surprised me since tigers last post season was 2014 , Jays last made in 2016 ( well really made , 2020 doesn’t count ) , they have been relevant past couple years again, Baltimore is playing well along with a top minor system . Not to pile on just using examples . Is that team really as poorly run as people are saying after the firing and if so I imagine the firing news was exciting for a tigers fanbase ?
GarryHarris
Al Avila was so bad, his dismissal was case for celebration. The whole organization was neglected by Tom Monaham then interfered with by Mike Illich. It needs to be turned over to pros and these pros need to be held accountable, not interfered with.
stymeedone
Lets just go for the record number of starting pitchers injured in one year. Expecting that Norris will be hurt by the 3rd inning.
manfraud
Seems like they want to manage his innings/not take any chances during a lost season
Motown is My Town
The Tigers will be lucky to get to 60 wins this year. The silver lining is a high draft pick and watching the kids play the rest of the season to prove what they have to offer
BSHH
Your statement isn’t wrong at all. But please forgive when I just can’t resist to remark that the kids are mostly injured (Skubal now firmly among them).
Gruß,
BSHH
dugdog83
A high pick we won’t see for 4 years
houkenflouken
Feel bad for Detroit. Lots of injuries and underperformance. As an M’s fan I’m very familiar and hope you can swing a cano/Diaz deal with someone involving javy Baez one of these years lol
Cherb
We need to just watch the players who get DFA’d as sort of an open tryout
Mikey Rags
I wonder if Skubal/Boras planned the exit and the Tigers retaliated saying you won’t pitch again this season.
Hello, Newman
That wouldn’t make much sense for either sides.
Skubal has a heart for Detroit- and respect for the game- to do all that nonsense.
Mikey Rags
Crazier things have happened. Hopefully it isn’t the case this time. He’s definitely our ace going forward.
jonbluvin
Wasn’t there talk of trading him before the deadline? I wonder how that would have played out if he was.
Mikey Rags
Yes there was, Tigers said they’d listen if someone called…
rocky7
The Tigers may have said that but almost if not every Tigers fan on this site heads were exploding at the thought of trading this current and future Cy Young candidate (LOL), 3.1 total WAR, 4.5 ERA, 16-24 pitcher whom is being touted as the bedrock of Tigers baseball today and in the future…….
DarkSide830
They were and are right.
Deleted Userr
Get that 16-24 out of here Rocky! No one cares about pitcher W-L in 2022.
miggy4prez
Lions game tonight y’all
Hello, Newman
The scene with Jamaal Williams leading the huddle- on hard knocks, gave me goose bumps
Brassroo
You know it’s pretty bad when all of your young pitchers purposely injure their arms to avoid being a Tiger. Yes…they suck that much!
For Love of the Game
brASSroo. That is plain mean and ill-informed. My family has lived in the Detroit area for generations. My dad played in Tiger Stadium as a kid. There are great people here, and you are just an ass.
Deleted Userr
Ruh roh
Brassroo
Some guys will even undergo surgery to get out of playing for this putrid team! Can’t say as I blame them.
ChiSoxCity
Looks like Detroits rebuild is about to reboot.
GarryHarris
No, this was the goal. All the players they’ve been hyping came up this season with Miguel Cabrera as the feature star. Did you like the act?
You Can Put It In The Books
Okay who has the Voodoo dolls of the entire Detroit pitching staff. It’s not funny anymore.
User 3595123227
Tommy John Surgery here we go.
gotigers68
We should have one helluva pitching staff in two years, after they all recover from TJ surgery…..
ThonolansGhost
Absolutely…lol
C Yards Jeff
John Means 2.0
ThonolansGhost
What a horrendous mess. I’ve never seen a rotation decimated to this degree.
flamingbagofpoop
No wonder they were open to trading him
JoeBrady
That’s why I always say you have to look at the motivation for any team to trade. When a poor team, or a rebuilding team, trades a good expensive player, it makes perfect sense. When a contender like the Indians traded Clevinger, that made no sense. When Detroit talked of trading Skubal, that made no sense.
ThonolansGhost
No. They were willing to trade him only if some team offered them a great deal.
TramDaMan3
Hitting coach next on the chopping block? Can’t blame last place offense on injuries ‘cept for Meadows.
alwaysatiger38
A very good Queen song comes to mind when dealing with Tigers starting rotation this year. It’s on the tip of my tongue, any help? Lol
Dumpster Divin Theo
Fat bottomed girls?
alwaysatiger38
A Queen song comes to mind when dealing with Tigers starting rotation this year.
Dumpster Divin Theo
You’re in love with your car?
Airo13
Yikes… Sounds like Tommy John #2 is coming. Would be terrible for such a young, talented pitcher.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Tarik Skubal? More like Tarik Skrubal. Amirite?