If this means Skubal will leave after 2026, I’ll take this trade off from the Sox perspective. Valdez is good but he’s definitely not on Skubal’s level.
Spring training is coming up fast and a lot of SP’s are still available. Given that the Sox can promise whoever they sign a rotation spot, I wonder if that could help them land someone. Similar to how Hays signed here because he can get everyday at-bats.