The Detroit Tigers made a surprising move on Monday, trading away their star pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Skubal, a two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner, was considered a key part of the Tigers’ rotation.

Reasons Behind the Trade

According to Scott Harris, the president of baseball operations for the Detroit Tigers, the team did not intend to trade Skubal at the beginning of the season. However, with the team’s record sitting at 54-58, four games below .500, the decision was made to trade Skubal and another key player, Casey Mize.

Harris expressed his dislike for trading players, stating that he hates selling and would rather be in a position to win. However, he acknowledged that the trade was necessary, given the team’s current situation.

Team’s Reaction

The Tigers’ players, including Riley Greene and Kenley Jansen, expressed their disappointment with the trade but remain optimistic about the team’s chances. Greene stated that the team still has a job to do and that they are only two games out of the playoffs.

Jansen, the team’s closer, emphasized the importance of making a push for the playoffs, saying that it’s not over until it’s over. The team’s manager, AJ Hinch, also expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to compete, despite the loss of Skubal and Mize.

The Tigers’ recent history provides a glimmer of hope, as they were able to surge to a 31-13 run down the stretch in 2024, despite being 10 games back of a playoff spot at one point. Harris believes that this team is talented enough to flip the script and make a push for the playoffs.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.