The AL Central is a mess—and that's exactly why the Detroit Tigers might hold onto their ace, Tarik Skubal, through the trade deadline.

Rumors of a Skubal trade have quieted recently, but they'll roar back if the Tigers slip out of contention. For now, that seems unlikely. The two-time reigning Cy Young winner, set to hit free agency after this season, remains in Detroit's rotation.

As FanSided's Mark Powell noted, the Tigers are "treading water," but the division's weakness works in their favor. Cleveland leads the AL Central at just a few games over .500, while Detroit sits right behind them at 18-17—tied with the Guardians. The last-place Twins are only three games back. The entire division is within striking distance.

That parity is a disaster for teams hoping to pry Skubal away. The Tigers have no reason to sell if they're still in the playoff picture. "Unless they receive an offer they cannot refuse," Powell added, Detroit will likely keep their ace for the rest of the year. Trading him while a postseason spot is within reach would be a tough sell for front office chief Scott Harris and ownership.

Skubal will almost certainly land a massive contract with a big-market team in free agency. But for now, the Tigers are playing meaningful baseball—and that changes everything. In a weak division, holding onto your star pitcher isn't just smart. It's the only move that makes sense.