What happened: An MLB insider has delivered an unfavorable update on the San Diego Padres' interest in acquiring Tigers ace Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline. The report ties the cooling outlook to San Diego's struggling offense, which has sapped the team's leverage and urgency to add a front-line starter. Detroit is widely expected to listen on Skubal, but the Padres are framed as a longer shot than they appeared earlier this summer.
Why it matters: Skubal is one of the most coveted arms whose trade odds Heyman recently pegged at 90 percent, so any cooling of San Diego's chances reshapes the deadline market for contenders. With the Padres hovering around .500, the front office faces a buy-or-hold decision that a sputtering lineup complicates. Missing on an arm of Skubal's caliber would leave a visible gap in the rotation for a team trying to stay in the playoff chase.
By the numbers: San Diego sits at 38-35 on the season while averaging just 3.8 runs per game and allowing 4.0, the offensive softness cited as a factor in the report. The Padres enter on a 1-game win streak after a 9-3 win at Baltimore on June 13.
What to watch: Watch how the Padres' offense trends over the next two weeks and whether rival suitors firm up their packages for Skubal as the deadline nears.