Tarik Skubal says he was emotional leaving Detroit Tigers for LA Dodgers, would love to return: 'I'm crying'

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Through no fault of his own, Tarik Skubal has become the center of discussion around Major League Baseball.

Skubal spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers and, over the last four seasons, has turned himself into one of the best pitchers in baseball. Thanks to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and its handling of a player's first six seasons, he's been paid well below market salaries for a pitcher of his caliber. But Skubal's ready to reach free agency after this season, providing his first opportunity to finally cash in on his hard work and success.

Despite the Tigers' playoff appearance in 2025 and their willingness to spend to try and reach the postseason in 2026, a series of bad breaks, injuries, underperformance, and poor bullpen performance put them well under .500 heading into July. Given the higher prices teams are willing to pay for talent midseason, and the middling return organizations receive if a player leaves in free agency, the Tigers faced a choice. Keep Skubal, hope their season turns around, and potentially watch him leave for just a draft pick this winter, or trade him to a contender for top prospects, years of control, and the certainty that you haven't let your star leave for nothing.

DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLD

Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates as he leaves the field in the fifth inning during Game 2 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Monday, October 7, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by