Could Tarik Skubal Return to the Detroit Tigers? What History Says About MLB Rental Stars

Tarik Skubal, the 29-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner, was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early August 2026. He is now one of the top upcoming free agents in baseball. While Skubal has publicly expressed affection for Detroit, history suggests the odds of a long-term return to the Tigers are low.

Skubal’s Comments and the Trade Context

Since joining the Dodgers, Skubal has repeatedly mentioned his desire to stay in Detroit for his entire career. On Pardon My Take, he said, “I would love to play my whole career in Detroit,” and indicated talks could resume after the postseason.Tigers fans interpreted the comments as hope. The rest of the league saw a free agent, represented by Scott Boras, keeping his market as wide open as possible.Detroit traded Skubal on August 2 for three prospects. He is finishing a $32 million arbitration-won contract after rejecting the Tigers’ $19 million offer last winter. The only public extension discussion between the sides was a four-year, $75 million offer after the 2024 season. Skubal’s camp wanted eight years. Both sides agree the talks collapsed over money.

Why Big Rental Stars Rarely Return?

Recent history shows that star players traded at the deadline rarely re-sign with their original clubs for massive long-term deals.Notable examples include:

CC Sabathia (2008): Traded from Cleveland to Milwaukee, then signed a seven-year, $161 million deal with the Yankees.

Mark Teixeira (2008): Rented by the Angels, then signed eight years and $180 million with the Yankees.

David Price (2015): Left Detroit for Toronto, later signed seven years and $217 million with Boston.

Manny Machado (2018): Rented by the Dodgers from Baltimore, then took 10 years and $300 million from the Padres.

Max Scherzer (2021): Traded from Washington to the Dodgers, later signed with the Mets.

Kris Bryant (2021): Moved from the Cubs to San Francisco, then signed seven years and $182 million with Colorado.

These players often deliver strong performances for their rental teams before cashing in on the open market.

The Exceptions

Some players do return, but the deals are usually shorter and less lucrative:

Aroldis Chapman returned to the Yankees after a 2016 rental with the Cubs (five years, $86 million).

Jack Flaherty was traded from Detroit to the Dodgers in 2024, won a ring, and signed back with the Tigers.

Merrill Kelly returned to the Diamondbacks after a short rental with the Rangers.

Rickey Henderson returned to Oakland after a 1993 World Series win with Toronto on a modest two-year deal.

The only true mega-deal among these return cases was Chapman’s. Most were shorter-term agreements for solid but not generational talents.

Will Skubal Stay with the Dodgers?

The Dodgers already feature a stacked rotation with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani. They have the financial resources to make a competitive offer and enjoy an exclusive negotiating window after the trade. However, Boras is expected to run a full auction. The Dodgers will not receive a discount simply for acquiring Skubal for two months.Skubal has defended the Dodgers’ aggressive approach, calling them “a winning organization.”

Outlook for Detroit Fans

A return to the Tigers remains possible only under narrow circumstances—such as a disappointing October, a potential lockout tightening the market, or Skubal opting for a shorter high-AAV deal. That scenario is considered unlikely.At 29 and coming off consecutive Cy Young seasons, Skubal is positioned for one of the largest free-agent contracts in recent memory. Sentiment toward Detroit is genuine, but the Tigers had multiple opportunities to lock him up long-term and could not reach an agreement.

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