Tarik Skubal Opens Up About Trade Rumors and His Desire to Stay in Detroit

As Major League Baseball’s trade deadline inches closer, Tarik Skubal remains the biggest name connected to rumors across the league.

But before Thursday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals, the Detroit Tigers ace made one thing abundantly clear: his focus remains exactly where it has been all season.

Winning in Detroit.

Speaking with reporters, Skubal addressed everything from the nonstop trade speculation to his belief in the Tigers’ postseason chances, making it clear that despite the noise surrounding him, his commitment to the organization hasn’t changed.

Skubal Isn’t Letting Trade Rumors Become a Distraction

Every five days, the speculation intensifies.

Will this be Skubal’s final start in a Tigers uniform? Will a contender make an overwhelming offer? Could Detroit pull off the biggest trade of the summer?

For Skubal, those questions remain outside of his control.

“I’ll just repeat the same answer. That’s out of my control. I’m going to do my best to put our team in a position to win a baseball game tomorrow, and that’s really all I can ask myself to do.”

Although many have wondered whether each outing could be his last at Comerica Park, Skubal isn’t thinking that way.

“That might be reality a little bit, but five days later there could be another home start. I don’t know how the rotation is going to shake out, but hopefully I’m throwing. I have two more home starts scheduled, just in general, not because of the trade deadline. I like pitching at home. If something changes, it’ll set in when it needs to set in, but not right now.”

It’s a measured response from a pitcher who has spent much of the past month at the center of baseball’s rumor mill.

Even Scott Boras May Not Know

Because Skubal is represented by Scott Boras, many assume the super agent is deeply involved in every conversation surrounding his future.

Skubal suggested that’s probably not the case.

“I don’t even know how informed Scott Boras is going to be with those decisions. I don’t know how much the front office talks to him, so anything I’d say would just be speculation. We’re in the same boat. I’m locked in on each start, just going out there, competing, and trying to win as many baseball games as I can for the Detroit Tigers. That’s my focus.”

It’s another reminder that while rumors continue to swirl publicly, players often aren’t privy to what is happening behind closed doors.

Skubal Wants to Win It All in Detroit

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Thursday’s media session came when Skubal was asked about where he wants to play.

His answer left little room for interpretation.

“I think we have a chance to win a World Series. I’ve believed that since spring training, and that belief has never changed. We’ve put ourselves in a tough situation, but we’ve come out of it playing really good baseball.”

He went even further, reflecting on what the Tigers organization has meant to his career.

“Going into spring training, I had never been more motivated to win a World Series for this city. This is the team that drafted me in 2018 and helped develop me. That’s always been the goal, and that won’t change unless I’m told I’m on a different team.”

Those comments stand in contrast to the national narrative that has frequently portrayed Skubal as a player eager to test free agency or move elsewhere.

The Tigers Still Believe

While outside projections have cast doubt on Detroit’s postseason chances, Skubal isn’t buying into those odds.

“I don’t know if I believe those odds. I’ve been on a team that had a two percent chance to make the playoffs, and we did it. I’m not going to speculate on percentages. Once you get there, it’s really hard to win a World Series. You just have to get in, and I think this team has all the pieces to do that.”

His message was simple.

The Tigers don’t need to worry about percentages or projections. They simply need to keep winning baseball games.

“None of it really matters unless we win today’s game. We have to keep playing good baseball. It starts tonight against the Royals. If we win tonight, then tomorrow we have a chance to win two in a row, then a series, and hopefully sweep a series. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves. We have to take care of business today.”

Waiting Like Everyone Else

With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, Skubal admitted he expects to learn his fate the same way everyone else will.

“I have no idea. Those questions aren’t really for me. I don’t know how they handle the business side of things. I’ve been around it a couple of times, and they usually don’t know until about five minutes before you guys do. I’m assuming it’ll be handled the same way.”

For now, that’s all Skubal can do.

Ignore the speculation.

Take the ball every fifth day.

And continue pitching for the team that drafted him.

Whether he’s still wearing the Old English D after the trade deadline remains to be seen, but based on his comments Thursday, one thing is certain: if Skubal has his choice, he’d like to finish what he started in Detroit.