Tarik Skubal stood before cameras and fought back tears after news broke that he was being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had spent nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers organization.
According to ESPN, Skubal recounted his time with the Tigers and said it was something he would "never take for granted." The moment was visibly emotional for the pitcher, who came up through the Detroit system and became one of the franchise's most prominent starters in recent years.
The trade, if completed, would send Skubal to one of the most competitive rosters in baseball. The Dodgers have been aggressive in adding pitching talent, and Skubal would join a rotation already built around high-profile arms.
For Skubal, the departure represents the end of his career in Detroit, a tenure of nine seasons that shaped him as a pitcher and as a professional. His farewell remarks pointed to how much the organization meant to him personally, not just professionally.
The formal details of the trade had not been fully announced at the time of his comments, but the reporting indicated the deal was moving forward. Skubal's next appearance is expected to come in a Dodgers uniform.
