Yankees insider even admits a Tarik Skubal trade probably isn't in the cards

The World Series hasn’t even started yet, but the MLB offseason has already kicked off for 27 (soon to be 28) franchises (the New York Yankees included), a few of which are suddenly imagining their team with Tarik Skubal on it.

Skubal and the Detroit Tigers reportedly aren’t anywhere remotely close in extension talks, which has led to an onslaught of Skubal-inspired trade machine activity from supporters of big-market clubs like the Yankees.

Brian Cashman apologists are glowing with expectations that the GM could surprise the baseball world and land Skubal.

Don’t get your hopes up, though, Yankees fans. The most prudent observers of the Skubal situation realize that a Yankees union isn’t likely to happen.

Yankees analyst throws cold water on Tarik Skubal buzz, links ace to Mets

SNY’s Andy Martino stepped up to the plate this week and took on the burden of serving some tough truth to excited Yankees fans who have been daydreaming about how good Skubal would look in pinstripes.

When asked about whether or not Cashman and the Yankees would seriously try to get Skubal, Martino’s reply was difficult for some Yankees fans to accept.

“Gut feeling knowing the two organizations and where they're at at the moment, it feels like more of a Mets thing,” Martino said.

What’s most painful for Yanks fans about Martino’s take is that it implies Skubal will indeed be available for the taking, but that the Yankees won’t be in the running. Moreover, the Yanks, according to Martino, could be outdone by their neighbors yet again when it comes to the sweepstakes for the biggest fish on the market (see: 2024 Juan Soto).

The Soto-Skubal comparison doesn’t actually hold a ton of weight, at least from the Yankees’ perspective. For one thing, Soto was a free agent, and Skubal isn't (yet). Another thing — it’s not hard to argue that the Yankees might be better off in the long run for not having signed Soto, whereas not landing Skubal if he were to become available via trade (and seeing him join New York’s other baseball team) would be a negative outcome for the Yanks, provided a Skubal trade came with an unofficial agreement about a future extension.

Most people viewing this situation from a detached standpoint logically assume that Skubal isn't going anywhere this winter. The overwhelming unlikelihood of Skubal landing in the Bronx stems from the reality that the Tigers would be insane to let him out of their sight. This, of course, has implications for the Mets too.

Reports of a gap in extension negotiations may exist, but at the end of the day, if Detroit's front office is at all serious about remaining in contention, waving the white flag on Skubal's future free agency and turning around to trade him this offseason would make little sense.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has been among the pundits advocating for Detroit to consider trading Skubal, but Rosenthal doesn't work for or root exclusively for the Tigers. Plus, there's no evidence that anyone who does is of the mind that trading Skubal is a good option right now.

When you have arguably the best starting pitcher in the sport on your team (in his prime, no less), you do whatever is humanly possible to keep him, which is why the Yankees and Mets are probably out of luck this offseason. Once Skubal hits free agency, another conversation can and will happen.