'I'm not surprised': Tigers executive reacts to Tarik Skubal's reunion comments

The Detroit Tigers lost their best player at the trade deadline, sending Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a reasonable return.

The Tigers could've kept Skubal, but failed to reach an agreement on a new deal before the start of the season, so they risked letting him walk in free agency.

However, it looks like Skubal is a bit homesick. Right after making his Dodgers debut, he admitted he wanted to be in Detroit for his entire career, and even hinted at potentially returning in free agency.

During an appearance on MLB Network Radio, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris addressed those words, and he wasn't surprised. 

Tigers president isn't surprised by Tarik Skubal's words

“I’m not surprised,” Harris said. “Our players love playing here. The organization has done a ton to make this a destination and a place that players feel really supported here.”

Of course, Harris couldn't get into details about the team's plans for free agency, but he left the door open for negotiations.

Also, he made the most of the opportunity to praise everybody in the Tigers organization for making it the type of place superstars like Skubal would want to be: 

“But it’s a tribute to all the people behind the scenes who are working so hard to support our players and create an environment and facilities here that bring out the best in the players,” Harris said. “And so it’s a credit to them, and it’s very validating to hear those comments.”

The Dodgers have become the biggest villain in baseball, so watching Skubal leave them and re-join his former team in free agency would be somewhat poetic; there are things no one can buy.

That said, there's still plenty of baseball to be played, and if the Tigers didn't meet his financial aspirations last offseason, it's hard to believe anything will change overnight.

Still, it looks like the ball's in their court now. Skubal has let them know how he feels, and it's up to them to decide whether they can afford to bring him back home.