Tarik Skubal teases Tigers fans with message about his future

— Baseball – Larry Brown Sports —
Tarik Skubal teases Tigers fans with message about his future

by Renzo Pocholo Salao

Tarik Skubal walking off the field
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field after throwing the first inning against Oakland Athletics of the home opening day at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, April 5, 2024. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tarik Skubal made a small joke during his Cy Young Award acceptance speech Saturday that likely had some Detroit Tigers fans’ ears perking up.

Skubal accepted his second consecutive Cy Young Award at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, N.Y. After Skubal took to the podium for his speech, the Tigers’ ace began with a humorous remark about going for a three-peat.

“It’s an honor to be back here, and it’s something I’ll never take for granted,” Skubal said.

“After last year’s dinner, I told AJ [Hinch], ‘Same time, next year.’ But I didn’t really know it’d become a reality. Skip, for the sake of superstition and a three-peat, let’s go ahead and keep the same plan for a year from now.”

Tigers fans would gladly welcome such an outcome. If Skubal is once again accepting his Cy Young Award and thanking Tigers manager AJ Hinch in his speech, there’s a good chance that means he’s signed a long-term deal to stay in Detroit.

The Tigers have a serious decision to make with Skubal next season. The hard-throwing left-hander is a year away from hitting free agency, when many expect him to command the largest salary for a pitcher in MLB history.

There’s a world wherein the Tigers trade Skubal at the deadline to recoup some assets rather than risk losing him for nothing. But it sure sounds like Skubal is open to sticking around in Michigan for at least another season if the price is right.

The post Tarik Skubal teases Tigers fans with message about his future appeared first on Larry Brown Sports.