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After all, Tarik Skubal is sticking with his original plan for the World Baseball Classic, as Team USA manager Mark DeRosa announced that the 2025 Cy Young Award winner will return to the Detroit Tigers after his start against Great Britain.
Skubal was always scheduled to return to his ball club after Team USA’s second game in the group stage in Houston, a 9-1 win over Great Britain. But after throwing his scheduled pitch count in the win, Skubal appeared to have second thoughts about a one-and-done performance.
“I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to separate,” Skubal told reporters, according to ESPN. “I was pretty dedicated to starting and getting back to camp.
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Tarik Skubal of Team USA pitches in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game presented by Capital One between Team Great Britain and Team USA at Daikin Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB)
“Obviously things have changed. That’s why I want to have some conversations and try to figure out a plan for me. But yeah, I don’t know either.”
Skubal hasn’t been shy about how much he’s enjoyed being on one of the best Team USA rosters ever assembled for the tournament, which includes another Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes, who will pitch against Mexico on Monday night. Skubal even noted that he could regroup with Team USA if they make it out of their pool and head to Miami for the elimination games.
TIGERS ACE TARIK SKUBAL WINS RECORD-BREAKING $32MI ARBITRATION: REPORTS
“When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from it,” Skubal added.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on September 6, 2025. (Rick Osentoski/Imagn Images)
But Skubal, who is set to become a free agent after this season with the Tigers, is sticking to the game plan from the start.
The 29-year-old is expected to command the richest contract of any pitcher in MLB history this coming winter, and it could be in the ballpark of $500 million. And perhaps his decision was made easier knowing that his national team mates understand him on his way back to the Tigers’ facility.
“He’s got the two Cy Young awards, but this guy is about to make half a billion dollars off her next offseason,” Team USA captain Aaron Judge told USA TODAY. “So for him to put it all on the line for his country and come out here and show up for us. …You know, maybe it’s just a game, but you know there’s a risk with everything you do, and for him to take that risk and come out here and be with us, the boys love it.”
Tarik Skubal of the United States reacts during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Great Britain and the United States at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
Skubal was awarded an MLB record $32 million in arbitration, surpassing the previous arbitration record held by the New York Mets and current Dominican Republic star Juan Soto.
After a stellar 2024 campaign that ended with some much-deserved hardware, Skubal followed it up with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA over 195⅓ innings in 31 starts. He also struck out 241 batters, 13 more than his league-leading mark the year before.
