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Tarik Skubal may no longer be with the Detroit Tigers, but he is not closing the door on a return. After being traded away, the star left-hander has now made it clear that Detroit still holds significant appeal as he looks ahead to MLB free agency. His latest comments immediately raise the possibility of a future reunion, especially if the Tigers decide they are willing to make the type of long-term financial commitment required to bring him back. Tarik Skubal Reveals Desire to Return to Detroit Tigers The Tigers traded Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a strong package headlined by outfielder Zyhir Hope. It was expected after Detroit put itself in a hole after a rough month of May. However, this might not be the end of the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner’s story with the Tigers. Skubal joined Pardon My Take and discussed leaving the Tigers. It was a tough moment for Skubal, who hopes Detroit is one of the teams bidding on his services in November. “I would love to play my whole career in Detroit,” Skubal said. “Hopefully those negotiations can pick back up once the playoffs are done. Hopefully, they’re involved with everything. I would love to return.” This is a major statement from Skubal. The 29-year-old superstar would “love” to return to the Tigers. However, the price has to make sense, and it may not for Detroit. Skubal is projected to earn $300 million-plus in MLB free agency, which would be a very pricey asking point for the Tigers. However, why could a Tigers reunion make sense? If it is up to Skubal, he may prefer a return anyway. Why a Detroit Tigers Reunion Could Make Sense Detroit would love to have Skubal, and he would love to be with the organization. Unfortunately, the Tigers were forced to move Skubal at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. At the time, the organization was sitting multiple games out of the final Wild Card spot. It made sense for the Tigers to move Skubal for a great return. While Skubal wants Detroit to be involved in his MLB free agency process, it is unlikely that it would offer the biggest deal. With agent Scott Boras by his side, it might be difficult for Skubal to return to Detroit if it is solely about the money. However, a reunion with Detroit could make sense for Skubal in one big way. If Skubal is willing to take less money to sign with the Tigers, a reunion would make sense. Detroit would have to present a strong offer that puts it in the race for Skubal’s services. Obviously, Skubal wouldn’t take $100 million, so the Tigers would have to be in the mix for his services this winter. Then, it will show how serious Skubal is about returning to Detroit. If it is all about the money, Skubal won’t be a Tiger to start the 2027 MLB season. It is as simple as that. Time will tell, but it will come down to Detroit’s desire for a reunion and whether Skubal wants the most money or not. Will Tarik Skubal Return to the Tigers? More likely than not, it feels like Skubal won’t return to the Tigers this offseason. The organization won’t offer more than Los Angeles, the New York Yankees, or another big-market team. This simply comes down to how much Skubal wants to play in Detroit for the 2027 MLB season and beyond. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner spent over half of 2026 with Justin Verlander, who returned to Detroit at the end of his career. Maybe this is a philsophy that Skubal will inherit moving forward. It isn’t out of the picture that Skubal returns to the Tigers in the same fashion at Verlander. For now, it doesn’t seem like the Tigers will sign Skubal unless he takes a discount compared to his other offers. It is easy to say how much you want to play for a specific organization until the money is right in front of you. For Skubal, the draw of returning to Detroit has to be stronger than the financials. Will Tarik Skubal return to the Detroit Tigers in MLB free agency this offseason? Read More: Detroit Tigers’ Troy Melton Makes MLB History After Tarik Skubal Trade Tap Here To Add Sportsnaut As A Trusted Source on Google