For years, the Seattle Mariners have consistently been among the teams that “have everything except the final shot.” Their rotation has been strong, even considered one of the most consistent pitching teams in MLB. But each season has left the same feeling of uncertainty: good enough to compete, but not bold enough to break away.
And then the name Tarik Skubal started to be mentioned.
According to a recent analysis from Bleacher Report, a trade scenario has been proposed—not flashy, not definitively announced, but enough to make observers pause. The Mariners get Skubal. The Tigers get Randy Arozarena, Bryce Miller, and Lazaro Montes—a package that is both strong now and solid for the future.
At first glance, this is the kind of proposal that’s easily dismissed because it’s “too unusual.” Seattle is known for its caution. Detroit has no reason to rush. But the more closely one reads, the more one realizes: the crux of this deal isn’t about the players’ value, but about their mentality.
Skubal could earn up to $32 million in 2026 if he wins arbitration. Meanwhile, Arozarena and Miller combined would only be worth about $18.1 million. Financially, Seattle would have to add another $14 million—a significant sum, but not the biggest hurdle for a team aiming for the top.
The real issue lies elsewhere.
The Mariners have long stated they don’t want to “ripe” their MLB roster in major trades. Arozarena is an All-Star, a familiar face in the lineup. Bryce Miller, despite facing injury problems in 2025, was Seattle’s most effective pitcher before. Putting these two names on the negotiating table isn’t just a professional calculation—it’s a statement that they’re willing to take risks.
On the Detroit side, the picture is different. Arozarena would immediately become the center of offense in the final year of his contract. Miller could fill the rotation gap with control until 2029. Lazaro Montes, with power comparable to Yordan Alvarez, represents the very near future. For the Tigers, this is a “just enough to think about” package.
As for Seattle, the question isn’t how good Skubal is. Everyone knows that. The question is: are they willing to give up the security they’ve built over many years?
A healthy Skubal at the top of the rotation could instantly turn the Mariners into championship contenders. But the trade would bring internal disruption, the risk of Skubal being merely a “rental,” and the possibility of things not going as planned. This is why the deal is described as “seemingly unbelievable.”
It’s noteworthy that the Mariners neither denied nor confirmed it. That silence means the proposal hasn’t disappeared, but rather continues to simmer. Because in the increasingly competitive MLB landscape, teams that don’t dare to cut into their strongest areas are often the ones that stay stagnant the longest.
Skubal isn’t forcing Seattle to act. But his name is forcing them to confront an old question—one that’s harder to avoid this time: do they want to remain a “stable” team, or accept the pain once and for all to move on to a new chapter?
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