The baseball world is buzzing with one of the most intriguing trade rumors of the season: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal could be on the move. While some fans might balk at the idea, the reality is that Skubal is a free agent at the end of the year, and the gap between his asking price and what the Tigers are willing to pay is widening. Add in the inherent fragility of pitchers, and Detroit might be wise to cash in on their star lefty before it's too late.

Skubal recently landed on the Injured List and underwent elbow surgery, but the news isn't as dire as it could have been. The procedure was less serious than initially feared, and he's expected to return within one to two months—a best-case scenario that has teams across the league taking notice. For the Tigers, who sit at 18-20 but just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL Central, the decision is a tough one. Their rotation is banged up with Casey Mize sidelined and Reese Olson out for the year, and there's no guarantee Skubal will be the same dominant force when he returns. So why not capitalize on his value now?

For contending teams, acquiring Skubal offers a unique opportunity: you get a frontline starter down the stretch, can manage his rehab carefully, and gain a potential edge in signing him long-term. Here are three teams that should be making calls to Detroit this summer.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. The Dodgers are perennial bidders for top-tier talent, and Skubal is no exception. With a deep farm system and a willingness to spend, Los Angeles could easily outbid any competitor. The idea of adding Skubal to an already stacked rotation—and keeping him in bubble wrap until September—is a tantalizing one for a team that always has its sights set on October. Imagine a postseason rotation featuring Skubal alongside the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It would be an All-Star team within a team.

2. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have one glaring weakness: pitching. Their offense is loaded with young talent, including a surging Pete Alonso, but the rotation needs a serious upgrade. Baltimore has the prospect capital to make a deal, and packaging someone like an injured Jordan Westburg or giving Coby Mayo a fresh start in Detroit could be the foundation of a trade. With the AL East as competitive as ever, the Orioles need to make a move now to solidify their postseason chances.

3. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are riding one of the best home stretches in franchise history, but it's come despite a staggering number of pitching injuries. Adding Skubal to the mix—even if he's in reserve for a month—would provide a massive boost to a rotation that desperately needs reinforcement. Chicago knows they need to strengthen their staff for the long haul, and Skubal could be the piece that turns a good season into a great one.

Yes, trading a homegrown ace mid-season goes against baseball tradition. But in today's game, sometimes you have to make the tough call. For these three teams, the reward could be well worth the risk.