Skubal would 'love' to return to Tigers after Dodgers trade

Tarik Skubal, now a Los Angeles Dodger, has openly stated his wish to spend his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Acquired by the Dodgers from Detroit for prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith, Skubal expressed his desire to return to Detroit once he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season.

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I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. I would love that. And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are over. We'll see where that goes. I hope they're involved in everything. I would love to come back.

"I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. I would love that," Skubal said on the podcast Pardon My Take. "And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are over. We'll see where that goes. I hope they're involved in everything. I would love to come back."

The Detroit management reportedly debated the trade of the two-time American League Cy Young winner for months. However, the final year of his contract and the team's stance accelerated the decision. Skubal admitted surprise at the turn of events, expecting to contend for a World Series with Detroit this season.

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This wasn't the way the season was supposed to go... I thought, 'This is the World Series team'... This is the team I'm going to go and win a World Series with.

His final start with the Tigers, where he achieved his 1,000th career strikeout, was emotional. "You start saying goodbye to teammates... It's a lot of guys, and I'm crying. I hate crying. I don't cry a lot," he confessed. "It's hard. It was a lot." Despite the emotional departure, Skubal also conveyed excitement for his new chapter with the Dodgers.

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You start saying goodbye to teammates... It's a lot of guys, and I'm crying. I hate crying. I don't cry a lot. It's hard. It was a lot.