Former New York Yankees outfielder Cameron Maybin has emphatically argued that the Yankees should ignore payroll concerns and make a blockbuster trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Maybin believes that acquiring the two-time Cy Young Award winner is the move that would allow the Yankees to “take over the entire league” (New York Post).

Maybin's comments were posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

🌟 Tarik Skubal's Dominance

The argument for trading for Skubal is centered on his elite performance, which has placed him among the best pitchers in baseball:

• Back-to-Back Cy Youngs: Skubal, 29, won his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award in 2025, joining an elite list of pitchers who have accomplished the feat (New York Post, TSN).¹

• 2025 Stats: He went 13-6 with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA over 31 starts (New York Post).²

• 2024 Triple Crown: In 2024, Skubal achieved the AL Pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39), and strikeouts (228) (New York Post).³

💔 Tigers' Contract Stalemate Fuels Trade Rumors

The trade speculation is driven by the Detroit Tigers' apparent reluctance to meet Skubal's soaring contract demands ahead of his scheduled free agency after the 2026 season (New York Post, Sports Illustrated).⁴

• Contract Gap: Negotiations for an extension have reportedly been off by as much as $250 million. Skubal will be eligible for arbitration for the third and final time after the 2025 season (New York Post, MLB.com).⁵

• Skubal's Stance: The pitcher has publicly dismissed the trade talks, stating on "Foul Territory" that he doesn't want to be traded and questions why his name is even in the conversation (New York Post).⁶

🎯 Maybin's Proposed Yankees Super-Rotation

Maybin not only advocates for acquiring Skubal but envisions a nightmare rotation for opposing lineups by pairing him with other available aces:

“But imagine pairing him with a healthy Sandy Alcantara in the Bronx along with [Max] Fried, [Gerrit] Cole, [Carlos] Rodon... That is a playoff nightmare for every lineup in baseball. And I don’t want to hear anything about payroll. This is the Yankees.” (New York Post)

• Sandy Alcantara (Trade Target): The 2022 NL Cy Young winner is also a subject of trade rumors, as his club, the Miami Marlins, is reportedly sending mixed signals on whether they will move him this offseason (Sports Illustrated).⁷

• Max Fried (Signed): While Maybin mentions Fried as a target, recent reports indicate Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million deal to remain with the Yankees last offseason, meaning he is already part of the projected 2026 rotation alongside Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón (Baseball-Reference, Pitcher List).⁸

Maybin concluded his appeal to the Yankees' management with a clear message: "If you want to win you find a way to make it happen!” (New York Post).

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