Tarik Skubal says he would love to return to Detroit Tigers after trade to Dodgers

Left‑handed pitcher Tarik Skubal was dealt by the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2026 trade deadline in exchange for outfielder Zyhir Hope and two pitching prospects, River Ryan and Brady Smith. On the "Pardon My Take" podcast, Skubal said, "I would love to play my whole career in Detroit" and expressed hope that negotiations could resume in November after the playoffs.

Skubal, a two‑time American League Cy Young Award winner, will become a free agent after the 2026 season and is projected to command a contract worth more than $300 million, a figure the Tigers may find difficult to match. His comments keep the possibility of a future reunion alive, though financial constraints are a major factor.

Prospect Zyhir Hope, one of the players acquired in the trade, hit his first home run for the Double‑A Erie SeaWolves in his third game with the club, underscoring the immediate impact of the deal on Detroit's farm system.