LAKELAND, FL – It's not quite LeBron James in "The Decision" in 2010, but Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal had to make an emotional decision about his participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
To pitch again for Team USA – or not?
Skubal will return Tuesday, March 10, to Lakeland, Florida – home of the Tigers' spring training complex – in preparation for the regular season, as announced Monday by Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. He is lined up to pitch Thursday against the New York Yankees in spring training, but the Tigers haven't made that official.
"I know what's at stake for him," DeRosa said before Monday's game against Team Mexico. "I'm over the moon that he decided to show in the first place for us – I really am – and take the ball for us. I think it meant a lot to a lot of the guys in that room. We know where his heart is. If he was in a different situation, he wouldn't be leaving."
Before Skubal's decision, the Tigers set right-hander Justin Verlander as the starter for Thursday's game against the Yankees and right-hander Casey Mize as the starter for Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It's unclear how Skubal's return to camp will impact the Tigers' pitching plan.
DeRosa would've benefited from Skubal making another WBC start, potentially March 17 in the championship game, but the second-time Team USA manager said he avoided influencing Skubal's decision.
"They've got to be here under their own want-to," DeRosa said. "I can't be the reason they're sitting in the room. I would be worried about every pitch he throws."
For Team USA, Skubal started Saturday in a 9-1 win over Team Great Britain during the second game of pool play – which was always the plan for his one-and-done experience.
The 29-year-old gave up a leadoff home run to Nate Eaton in the first inning, then settled in. He allowed one run on two hits and zero walks with five strikeouts across three innings, throwing 41 pitches.
"With him agreeing to pitch against Great Britain, we were always under the assumption that he was going to leave after pool play," DeRosa said. "I know that kind of got clouded a little bit because getting on the mound in the USA jersey, being in the room with these guys, is special."
Skubal – the reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner – remains scheduled to start for the Tigers on March 26, which is Opening Day against the San Diego Padres.
It was a risk for Skubal to pitch in the WBC's intense environment.
That's because Skubal is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season – projecting to become the first pitcher in MLB history to secure at least $400 million in free agency.
"I understand that 99.9% of the guys," DeRosa said, "if given his ability to get to free agency and just the generational wealth on the table and everything he's got in front of him, a chance to win three Cy Youngs in a row, I was proud that he even showed for us."
USA Today Sports columnist Bob Nightengale contributed to this report.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
