Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman had new teammate Tarik Skubal’s back after he said he would love to return to the Detroit Tigers.
The Dodgers shipped three top prospects to the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline to land Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner who is in his last season of team control. Shortly after the trade, though, Skubal expressed his desire to return to Detroit on Barstool’s Pardon My Take.
“I would love to play my whole career in Detroit,” Skubal said. “I would love to. And hopefully those negotiations pick back up in November once the playoffs are done. And we’ll see where that goes.
“Hopefully they’re involved with everything; I would love to return. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the City of Detroit and the manager, the coaching, the staff, the trainers, the teammates; it’s tough.
“And I’m going to try not to cry right now, but I love all those guys. So hopefully they’re involved in November and we’ll see what happens then.”
Aug 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Fans took issue with Skubal’s comments, as his infatuation with his former lead to questions as to whether or not his heart is in it while he plays with the Dodgers.
Freeman played for the Atlanta Braves before becoming a Dodger ahead of the 2022 season, spending the first 12 years of his MLB career in the NL East. He won his sole MVP award with the Braves in 2020, and led them to a World Series in 2021.
Jun 24, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) reacts as he receives his World Series ring from Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker (43) prior to the game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The first baseman understands being tied to an organization, and said he understood where Skubal was coming from.
“You’re not just gonna flip a switch and be, like, ‘Oh, I’m great,’” Freeman said.
“…You have all these friends, all these people you came up with in the minor leagues that are now with you as teammates. You had 15-hour bus rides together. You’re doing all these things together. The organization invested in you. You invested in them. You can do everything you can to win a World Series, and it doesn’t happen, and then you get traded. So, you’re going to have emotions.”
Freeman, since joining the Dodgers, has helped them to two World Series titles, and has become a fan favorite player during his time in Los Angeles. Skubal is only guaranteed to be with the Dodgers through the remainder of the season, but will look to endear himself to the city in the same way by bringing home a three-peat.
LA Baseball Report
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