The Tigers “feared if they waited too long, their best options could opt for a pitcher like Kirby with multiple years of control and potentially collapse the Skubal market,” Passan writes. As it turned out, Kirby remained in Seattle, and one M’s official told Rosenthal that trade talks about Kirby “never advanced past the 50-yard line.” Rosenthal writes that this was one of multiple trade packages Milwaukee offered for Skubal, with such names as Alexander Frias and Jett Williams also involved along with Pina. Yankees GM Brian Cashman heavily implied earlier this week that Detroit wanted George Lombard Jr. for Skubal, while Passan writes that the Rays were similarly unwilling to include Theo Gillen. Other suitors like the Braves and Cubs “made virtually all of their young players available” for Skubal, according to Rosenthal, but “never got close to a deal.”