How the Tigers lost all their Tarik Skubal leverage in one series
The longer the Detroit Tigers wait to make up their mind on Tarik Skubal, the worse off they'll be at the MLB trade deadline. Yes, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris wants to give this Tigers team - fresh off an ALDS appearance and with a hungry young core - every chance he can to turn their season around. But a lot has changed for the Tigers in just a couple of days.
A series loss to the Houston Astros has overshadowed a hot start to June. The Tigers remain on the outside looking in of the AL Wild Card race. Frankly, they're lucky to be within striking distance at all, and there are a lot of teams to jump before we can take the Tigers seriously as a contender. That's what makes the recent rumblings about Skubal - that Harris will wait until at least the MLB All-Star Break, if not longer to make up his mind - all the more concerning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat the Tigers lose by holding onto Tarik Skubal
By not committing to trading Skubal after his most recent start against the Cleveland Guardians (a loss, mind you), Harris and the Tigers lost their most valuable asset; time. Time is on the Tigers side if they decide right here and now that Skubal is part of their past, rather than their present. Odds are, Detroit will wind up dealing Skubal either way barring a dominant run up to the All-Star Break. Yet, that's weeks of negotiating time Harris could be using to increase Skubal's value, and scouting the right prospects for a return package. It would also give Detroit a leg-up on teams offering a perceived backup plan, such as the New York Mets and Freddy Peralta.
Just like there is only one Skubal, Harris will only receive one chance to land the right return package for a two-time AL Cy Young winner. The pressure is on, and it's increasing by the day. This Tigers team is just good enough - and well-managed by AJ Hinch - to stay where they're at. In Houston, the Tigers lost Gleyber Torres to the injured list alongside Wencel Perez. The hits keep on coming for a team that has been beleaguered by injuries all season long. Perhaps Harris and Hinch see something we don't, but that would require watching a different product entirely.
In Jeff Passan's recent article ranking the top-100 trade deadline candidates, Skubal was unsurprisingly No. 1. This is the Skubal deadline, after all, and he is far and away the best starting pitcher and player available. Per Passan, Skubal's "future depends on whether the Tigers can muster a run at an American League playoff spot."
The Tigers Tarik Skubal leverage is gone
The injuries are mounting for the Tigers, and any hope of a second-half run stands on the backs of players currently unavailable. While some of those players, such as starting pitcher Casey Mize, could make their return soon, is anyone really all that confident they'll contribute at their usual clips? This is a lineup far too reliant on Gleyber Torres, who has missed over a month of action and just landed back on the IL. The bullpen is a mess, with a three-headed closer monster with little bite. And the starting rotation is held together with medical tape.
AdvertisementAdvertisementDetroit is staring down the barrel. Their next two series, both at home against contenders Chicago and New York, will determine their season. Perhaps they'd have a little bit more leeway had they not fallen short in Cleveland and Houston.
The good news for Harris is that Skubal is a once-in-a-generation lefty. Any team that acquires him will immediately see their World Series odds skyrocket, and rightly so. Skubal is the kind of pitcher who can turn a contender into a World Series favorite, or in the case of the Dodgers a back-to-back champion into a three-peat shoe-in. That's incredibly valuable.
But the longer the Tigers wait to jumpstart negotiations, the less they'll be able to demand in return. The difference between a trade package with one top-100 prospect and two can determine the length of a rebuild. These are all matters Harris has surely thought through. He just bet on the wrong horse, and can't afford to wait much longer.
More MLB news and analysis:
MLB Insider: Trade deadline buzz on Matt Chapman, Giants, Nationals and more
Shocking Wild Card standings are setting up MLB's strangest trade deadline in years
Ranking the 10 MLB front office execs feeling the most heat before the trade deadline
The best trade chip the 10 top teams in the MLB standings can acquire
MLB mock draft 2026: A new No. 1 changes everything at the College World Series
This article was originally published on www.fansided.com as How the Tigers lost all their Tarik Skubal leverage in one series.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
