Pitcher Tarik Skubal described a "roller coaster" of emotions after learning he was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a significant deal. For a period on Saturday night, Skubal was unaware of the news as his team played against the Oakland Athletics.
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, was with the Tigers during their game when the trade that would send him to the two-time defending World Series champions was finalized. He learned of the move only after returning to the clubhouse. "The walk to the clubhouse was very normal," Skubal said in a post-game availability broadcast by Detroit SportsNet. "Then I got a phone call. I was like, 'I know what this is.'"
The trade marked Skubal's departure from the only organization he has played for in his seven-year Major League Baseball career. The Tigers drafted him in 2017, and he helped lead them to consecutive postseason appearances in the last two years. "It's crazy," Skubal said of the situation. "Going into the season, this isn't what I planned on doing. But circumstances change, situations change. And I'm very appreciative of everything that the Tigers have done for me."
He acknowledged the support he received from the Tigers organization, particularly during the early stages of his career. "They've always had answers or a plan for me," he added. "So yeah, I feel like I've experienced a lot and kind of gone through the ups and downs. Gone through a lot of failure early in my career, and this club never stopped believing in me."
Following the news, Skubal turned his attention to his new team, which boasts one of the most formidable pitching staffs in baseball history. "I'm excited to be a Dodger," he stated. "I'm excited to get down there and meet all those guys, and chase three championships in a row. That's hard to do. So I'm excited to be a part of that. But yeah, it's a lot of different emotions. Definitely kind of a roller coaster a little bit."
During his reflections, Skubal became emotional when discussing his time with the Tigers. He spoke about using the team's Game 5 AL Division Series exits in 2024 and 2025 as motivation for winning a championship in Detroit. He also expressed regret about leaving his teammates, describing them as some of his closest friends.
When asked again about joining the Dodgers, Skubal paused before looking toward his new future. "It's exciting. Yeah, I'm excited," he said. "They got a good group. You hear everything across the way. I'm excited."
Despite his excitement for the opportunity with the Dodgers, Skubal appeared visibly pained by his departure from Detroit.