What happened: Tarik Skubal is drawing heavy trade interest as MLB's deadline nears, headlining a wave of high-profile players whose names are surfacing in deadline speculation. The Detroit left-hander is widely viewed as the most coveted starting pitcher potentially available.

Why it matters: Skubal is a front-line ace whose move would reshape any contender's rotation, and Detroit's slide in the standings has sharpened the sense that the Tigers could sell rather than risk losing value. Wire.report has tracked rising Skubal trade chances since late May, when Detroit sat last in its division and five games out of a wild-card spot.

What to watch: Watch whether Detroit signals a firm buy-or-sell stance as the deadline approaches, and which contenders press hardest for Skubal.