Tigers rumors: Detroit mentioned as Tarik Skubal free agency suitor, but there’s a catch appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made a massive mid-season move in an effort to win a third straight World Series. The Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers midseason. The Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs in the NLCS, and Skubal is set to be a free agent. Dodgers teammates have already begun to lobby for Skubal to return to the team.
There are plenty of teams expected to be in pursuit of the ace pitcher, but one of them could be his former employer, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
“Although Detroit made the difficult decision to move Skubal before the Trade Deadline, the pitcher said he “would love to return” to the Tigers as a free agent. Could the Tigers shock the world by trading Skubal for three prospects in early August, then bringing him back with a monster free-agent deal only a few months later? It seems unlikely that the Tigers will get involved in a bidding war, so if Skubal is determined to get every last dollar, it probably won’t result in a return to the Motor City,” Feinsand wrote.
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The Tigers were not able to come to an agreement on a long-term deal with Skubal, leading to his ultimate trade. If Skubal is willing to take a discount to return to the Tigers, then a deal may come, but if not, he could be looking elsewhere.
There is also the timing of the deal. The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA expires on December 1. This means owners may not want to sign an agreement before then, but players may be motivated to get deals done in case of changes. Regardless of what the rules will be in place, many teams will want the services of Skubal.