Tarik Skubal Discusses Potential Tigers Reunion in MLB Free Agency After Blockbuster Dodgers Trade

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal says he's hoping to resume contract talks with the Detroit Tigers once he hits free agency this fall.

"I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. I would love to," Skubal said in a clip shared Friday by Pardon My Take. "And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November, once the playoffs are done.

"We'll see where that goes. Hopefully, they're involved in everything. I would love to return. I've got nothing but good things to say about the city of Detroit, and the manager, the coaching, the staff, the trainers, the teammates... I love all those guys, so hopefully they're involved in November."

The Tigers sent Skubal and his expiring contract to the Dodgers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline in exchange for three prospects.

Skubal said his departure from Detroit was an emotional goodbye that involved him saying farewell to some of his "best friends."

"It sucks for me, too. This wasn't the way the season was supposed to go," Skubal said on Pardon My Take. "Going into the offseason, the people the acquired that we acquired through free agency and who we signed, I'm like, 'This is the World Series team. This is team that I'm going to go and win a World Series.'"

When asked earlier this week about the potential of signing an extension with the Dodgers, Skubal said he was "really not going to talk about the business side of what's happening with me" (h/t Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register).

"Obviously, I understand free agency," Skubal continued, per Plunkett. "I'd really like the message to be just, I'm excited to be here and learn everything about the Dodgers and all these guys here, develop relationships and win as many baseball games as I can."

The Tigers reportedly offered Skubal a deal worth less than $80 million for four years after he won his first of consecutive AL Cy Young Awards in 2024, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The two sides were unable to reach agreement on a long-term deal before the 2026 season, ahead of which Skubal received an arbitration record one-year, $32 million deal.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said in his post-trade press conference he had decided to trade Skubal after leaning the pitcher wanted to test free agency this offseason.

"We explored an extension once. The response that I got from Tarik's agent was pretty clear that he was intent on going to free agency and exploring the market," Harris said last week.

Harris concluded, "I expect him to be a free agent this winter, and we'll see what happens from there."

Skubal has posted the lowest ERA in the AL for the last two seasons. He missed time earlier this campaign due to an elbow procedure but has still pitched a 2.81 ERA through 17 starts when available.

He made his Dodgers debut Tuesday, when he struck out six batters while surrendering two runs and four hits in a loss to the Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers will hope to take advantage of having Skubal, even if it just for the next few months, by continuing to work him into their rotation before the club begins its bid for a third straight World Series title.