Yankees have golden opportunity to dictate their own Tarik Skubal trade fate

The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and dark horse Atlanta Braves seem poised to face off in a Tarik Skubal trade melee this August, potentially placing the fate of the league in the balance. Even teams that seemingly never play in these types of waters might get involved if a generational rental is dangling — what do the Rays and Brewers (with visions of '08 CC Sabathia) have to lose, after all, considering how effectively they've been able to reload their farm systems over the years?

But before we get to the hand-wringing about whether blocking LA from acquiring Skubal is reason enough for the Yankees to deplete their farm system ... it's worth noting that it's far from a certainty he'll even be available. The Yankees themselves will play a large part on the field in determining the severity of the Tigers' fire sale.

New York plays Detroit six times in their next 10 games. They face off with Skubal twice, sending Ryan Weathers to the bump to oppose him both times (if the probables stay aligned).

Not only that, but these aren't the lowly Tigers you recall from May. They're playing like a much different team than their record would indicate, netting their run differential back pretty close to an even-keeled zero while posting the game's best record in June with top-tier power and pitching numbers.

And that's largely without Skubal, who allowed five earned runs in his first 11 2/3 innings back across two starts. We sure the Tigers are abandoning ship after their prized possession rushed back from an innovative surgery just to boost their case?

Yankees' upcoming schedule vs. Tigers, Red Sox packed with pitching talent

The Yankees, injury-ridden and hanging on in a weakened American League, won't get a single day off this week while traveling to Comerica and Fenway. Rookie lefty Jake Bennett is the least intimidating face they'll see; outside of the hard-throwing fresh face, they'll be opposed by Skubal, Framber Valdez, Casey Mize, Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. There is not a single scheduled breather.

And, of course, when that slate wraps up, they'll face Skubal again in the Bronx.

Throw the records out the window. The Yankees will have to attempt to stay afloat this week with a Goldschmidt-and-Rice-centric offense and the AL's freakiest staffs standing in their path. If the offense slumbers, the Tigers will draw ever closer to rendering the Yankees' biggest trade deadline debate completely moot before we even hit July. If the AL Central is in reach, he's not going anywhere.

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