Tigers Ace Skubal Addresses Offseason Trade Rumors

Detroit's two-time Cy Young winner opens up about speculation surrounding his future with the team.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:31am

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, addressed the trade rumors that swirled around him during the offseason. Despite the speculation, Skubal made it clear he wanted to remain with the Tigers, spending much of his offseason in Detroit and making public appearances to show his commitment to the team and city.

Why it matters

As one of the best pitchers in baseball, Skubal was the subject of intense trade rumors during the offseason, with the Tigers potentially looking to get maximum value for him before he hits free agency. Skubal's comments provide insight into how he handled the speculation and his desire to stay in Detroit long-term.

The details

Skubal, who won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025, said he wasn't "worried about getting traded" since that was out of his control. However, he wanted to make it clear to Tigers fans that he truly wanted to remain with the team. During the offseason, Skubal was visible around Detroit, attending college basketball, Red Wings, and Lions games, which seemed to be a "full-court press" to communicate his commitment to the city and organization.

  • Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award in 2024 and 2025.
  • Skubal will make $32 million in 2026, the highest figure ever awarded in MLB salary arbitration.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who has won the American League Cy Young Award in the last two seasons.

Scott Boras

Skubal's agent, known for taking his clients to free agency.

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What they’re saying

“It's not that I was worried about getting traded because obviously that's out of my control. But it's one of those things where you can't really worry about it — and I don't want that to sound like I didn't want to be a Detroit Tiger — that's not what I want that to sound like. It's out of my control, so I can't really stress about it. It does me no good to have it impact my offseason workouts or have it impact my day-to-day life.”

— Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers Pitcher

What’s next

Skubal will look to win his third consecutive Cy Young Award in 2026 and cement his status as one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The takeaway

Tarik Skubal's comments show his commitment to the Detroit Tigers organization and his desire to remain with the team long-term, despite the intense trade speculation surrounding him this offseason. As a two-time Cy Young winner, Skubal is poised to continue his dominance on the mound and cement his legacy as one of the game's elite pitchers.