Tarik Skubal Just Wants to Pitch - But Will It Be in Detroit?
Tarik Skubal isn’t saying much, but what he is saying speaks volumes.
The two-time defending AL Cy Young winner - and the undeniable ace of the Detroit Tigers - recently posted a short, heartfelt message on social media that sent Tigers fans into a frenzy. Just four words: “Miss you 🏠,” alongside a video of Comerica Park.
It wasn’t a trade announcement. It wasn’t a contract update.
But for a fanbase on edge, it was a welcome reminder that Skubal still feels connected to the place where he’s built his career.
And yet, the uncertainty surrounding his future in Detroit hasn’t gone anywhere.
Skubal is entering the final year of his contract, and the trade rumors are swirling louder than ever. The Tigers’ front office is staring down a tough decision - one that could shape the franchise for years to come.
Tarik Skubal posted “Miss you 🏡” from Comerica Park in Detroit this morning pic.twitter.com/Fx2g8gVG4u
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 20, 2025
Do they lock in their ace with a massive extension? Or do they cash in now and trade him for a haul, knowing that letting him walk next offseason for nothing would be a gut punch?
Let’s be clear: Skubal isn’t just good - he’s elite. A back-to-back Cy Young winner, ERA leader, and the kind of pitcher you build a rotation around.
Detroit doesn’t make the playoffs the last two years without him. Full stop.
He’s been that valuable, that reliable, that dominant.
But here’s the dilemma. Can the Tigers afford to keep him? And more importantly - will they?
Principal owner Christopher Ilitch would have to break the mold to get a deal done. We’re talking about a contract that could reset the market for pitchers - a move that hasn’t exactly been part of Detroit’s recent playbook.
And with Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris focused on building a sustainable contender, trading Skubal might be the more pragmatic route. The return for a pitcher of his caliber - under team control for one more year - could be franchise-altering.
Still, that’s a tough sell to fans. Skubal is homegrown, drafted by the Tigers back in 2018, and he's become the face of their resurgence. Letting him go wouldn’t just hurt the rotation - it would sting emotionally, too.
And yet, there’s a valid concern here: if your team’s playoff hopes live and die by one arm, how stable is that foundation? Relying so heavily on one player is risky business, especially in a sport as unpredictable as baseball.
But don’t mistake Skubal’s quiet offseason for disinterest. If anything, he’s itching to compete.
That short social post? It wasn’t just nostalgia - it was a player missing the grind, the atmosphere, the roar of Comerica Park.
And he won’t have to wait long to get back on the mound. Skubal has already committed to pitch for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, giving him an early chance to showcase his stuff on the international stage.
Until then, the waiting game continues in Detroit. Will the Tigers go all-in to keep their ace?
Or will they pivot toward a long-term vision that doesn’t include No. 29?
One thing’s certain: Tarik Skubal just wants to pitch. The only question is - where?