Tarik Skubal became emotional when he learned he was being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a move that concluded his six-season tenure with the Detroit Tigers. The pitcher discussed the unexpected tears during an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, admitting the sentiment caught him off guard.
"A lot of those guys are my best friends, and it’s a bunch of men and I’m crying," Skubal said. "I hate crying. I don’t cry a lot. When my wife walked down the aisle I didn’t cry because I was so nervous. And I’m crying in a clubhouse with a bunch of other grown men saying bye to people and giving everybody a hug."
Skubal, who was in his seventh year with the Tigers organization, was a highly speculated trade chip this summer. The Tigers ultimately sent him to the Dodgers on August 1 in exchange for three prospects: outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. Despite joining a team contending for the World Series, the transition was evidently difficult for the two-time Cy Young Award candidate.
He made his Dodgers debut recently against the Chicago Cubs, allowing two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts over six innings. Skubal is currently on a rental basis for the Dodgers this season, as he is slated to become a free agent after the 2026 season. Speculation already exists that the Dodgers will pursue a long-term contract to retain the ace pitcher.