New Dodgers Pitcher Tarik Skubal Already Wants To Go Back to Tigers

It’s been a strange week for the Los Angeles Dodgers after acquiring superstar ace Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.

After acquiring Skubal from Detroit, Los Angeles saw their odds to win a World Series balloon to +175 on most major sportsbooks, offering nearly just an even return if the Dodgers are the final team remaining in October.

But since the Dodgers shocked the baseball world again, it hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows. The Dodgers have lost seven straight games following Edwin Diaz’s blown save on Friday night. This is the longest Los Angeles losing streak in the Shohei Ohtani era, tying when the Dodgers lost seven straight games back in July last season.

If the panic meter can’t increase any higher in Los Angeles, Skubal said he’d be hopeful to return to the Tigers on a recent podcast appearance following his Dodgers debut.

“I would love to play my whole career in Detroit,” Skubal said. “Hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are done and we’ll see where that goes.”

Skubal admitted that he wanted to win a World Series in Detroit, and cried in the clubhouse saying goodbye to his teammates, coaches and trainers. He hopes that the Tigers front office can get involved in contract negotiations following this season, where Skubal is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Of course, the Dodgers will undoubtedly try to secure his services, also. Their MLB-leading payroll is a reason why they’ve won consecutive World Series titles, and appear on the doorstep of a third if they can snap this early-August skid.

Those same Dodgers could be part of the reason why a work stoppage could happen following this season when baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires. MLB owners are expected to push for a salary cap, while the players obviously vehemently reject that suggestion. This debate is expected to cause a lockout, which could delay the start of the 2027 season – if baseball is played at all next year while these labor disputes persist.

And that will make Skubal’s situation something to watch this offseason.

The Dodgers didn’t have to overpay for a back-to-back Cy Young winner in Skubal, sending four minor league players to Detroit in the return package. It’s because on paper, Skubal is just a two month rental. If he helps pitch the Dodgers to a third straight World Series, the trade was instantly worth it. If the Dodgers can find a way to extend Skubal even with baseball’s ongoing salary disputes, that’s just the cherry on top.

But Skubal genuinely sounds like he loves Detroit. Scott Dean Boras is Skubal’s agent, notoriously one of the most vicious negotiators in the sport. He’s going to want every last penny. And if the Tigers can’t pay that, the Dodgers will certainly try to.