HOUSTON — Two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal will leave Team USA after its game against Mexico on Monday night and return to Detroit Tigers camp in Lakeland, Fla., finalizing what the ace lefty described this weekend as “one of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career.”
Skubal announced last month he would make just one WBC start before returning to the Tigers’ spring training facility and continuing his buildup for the regular season. Skubal is scheduled to hit free agency after the season and will command one of the largest starting pitching contracts in baseball history.
Skubal made his lone start on Saturday, striking out five across three innings of one-run ball during Team USA’s 9-1 victory against Great Britain. Patriotism and pageantry during that outing altered Skubal’s plans.
“It’s hard. It’s really hard. I’ve been trying to make it work — I promise I have. I love America. I love our country and love everything this tournament is about,” Skubal said prior to Monday’s game. “I’ll be the first to sign up for the ‘28 Olympics if they want to have me and we figure out the timing of it.”
Skubal said he “didn’t sleep much the last few days” while trying to make a decision. He sought counsel from “almost everybody” within Team USA’s clubhouse, including Aaron Judge, Alex Bregman and Kyle Schwarber. Tigers teammate Justin Verlander reached out, Skubal said, as did Detroit manager A.J. Hinch. Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, also spoke with his client.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said he and pitching coach Andy Pettitte had a 45-minute talk with Skubal on Sunday during the team’s off day. “You could tell he was struggling with it,” DeRosa said.
“I think the resounding message from all those guys was make sure to take care of yourself and your family and we support you no matter what happens. I appreciate that,” Skubal said.
Though it is unclear how Team USA would’ve deployed Skubal if he stayed, logic suggests saving him for a potential championship game on March 17.
Skubal has already been named Detroit’s Opening Day starter on March 26. The potential of altering that schedule — coupled with injury concerns and how pitch count restrictions in the tournament would impact his buildup — helped aid Skubal’s decision.
“Historically, if you look at data, almost all pitcher injuries are in spring or right after All-Star break — because you have time off and then you have a jump and spike in workload,” Skubal said. “Just being smart. I know what this season obviously means, too. The whole thing kind of played into it for sure.”
In addition to the enormous payday looming, Skubal’s importance to the Tigers, a team with legitimate American League pennant expectations, can’t be overstated, either. The risk he assumed by even accepting the invitation to pitch in a preseason tournament is immense.
“We were thankful that he even showed up to pitch a single inning for us,” Bregman said on Monday.
Skubal acknowledged being “naive” to the emotions he would experience pitching for Team USA and sharing a clubhouse with so many of his fellow superstars. Skubal twice said he plans to pitch in the 2028 Olympics “if they want to have it” and has already committed to pitching in the next World Baseball Classic.
“I just assumed it would be an All-Star Game type of vibe and it’s absolutely not. It couldn’t be farther from that. I feel like I know these guys and I’ve known them for a week,” Skubal said.
“Spending a week with these guys (it) feels like I’ve been teammates with them for a very long time. There’s no ego in the clubhouse and everyone has one goal of trying to win. I didn’t expect that, I guess.”
“I totally misread how I would feel.”
Skubal stayed with Team USA for its massive Monday night matchup against Mexico at Daikin Park, but will return to Lakeland at some point this week. He plans to attend the semifinals and finals at loanDepot Park in Miami, should Team USA make it — an outcome that will feel bittersweet for Skubal, who said he is not “at peace” with his decision.
“I think the only way I’ll be at peace with it is in Miami celebrating after we win the whole f—ing thing,” Skubal said. “That’ll give me some peace.”