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Tarik Skubal is sticking with his original plan for the World Baseball Classic after all, as Team USA manager Mark DeRosa announced the 2025 Cy Young Award winner will return to the Detroit Tigers after his start against Great Britain.
Skubal was still expected to return to his ballclub after Team USA’s second group stage game in Houston, a 9-1 victory over Great Britain. However, after throwing his expected pitch count in the victory, Skubal appeared to have doubts about a one-and-done appearance.
“I didn’t expect these types of emotions to go through my brain or for my thoughts to differ,” Skubal told reporters, according to ESPN. “I was pretty determined to get a start and get back to camp.
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Tarik Skubal of Team USA throws 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)
“Things have changed, obviously. That’s why I’m going to have some conversations and try to figure out a plan for myself. But yeah, anyway, I don’t know.”
Skubal made no secret of how much he enjoyed being part of one of the best Team USA squads ever assembled for the tournament, which includes fellow Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who will pitch against Mexico on Monday night. Skubal even noted that he might regroup with Team USA if it made it out of its pool and headed to Miami for the playoffs.
TIGERS ACE TARIK SKUBAL WINS RECORD $32M IN ARBITRATION: REPORTS
“When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to get out of it,” Skubal added.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws during 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 get the richest contract of any pitcher in MLB history this coming winter, and it could be in the range of $500 million. And perhaps his decision was easier knowing that his national teammates understood him when he returned to the Tigers facilities.
“He won both Cy Young awards, but this guy is about to make half a billion dollars this next offseason,” Team USA captain Aaron Judge said, according to USA TODAY. “So for him to put everything on the line for his country and come here and show up for us. … You know, maybe it’s just one game, but you know there’s a risk in everything you do, and for him to take that risk and come 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 received 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 fantastic 2024 campaign that ended with some well-deserved hardware, Skubal followed 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.
