Will Smith Baseball: Dodgers Fans Dream of Tarik Skubal Partnership After WBC Matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers fans are experiencing a surge of excitement as they watch catcher Will Smith behind the plate for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The source of their enthusiasm? The pitcher he’s receiving: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. This pairing has ignited speculation about Skubal potentially joining the Dodgers in the future.
The connection between the Dodgers and Skubal has been a topic of discussion for some time. When the WBC lineup was announced, fans immediately noticed the potential preview of a dynamic duo. One fan on X (formerly Twitter), known as “daip,” playfully commented, “Skubal pitching to Will Smith we getting a early 2027 preview y’all lol,” referencing the ongoing speculation about Skubal becoming a Dodger in the 2027 season.
Another user, “Lindsay Adams,” succinctly captured the sentiment with a simple, “Will Smith catching Tarik, eh?” The buzz is understandable. Skubal is widely considered one of the most coveted pitchers in baseball, especially after consecutive strong seasons. His potential availability has teams across the league on high alert.
Skubal’s Contract Situation Fuels the Fire
Adding fuel to the speculation is Skubal’s current contract situation. He recently stated that the Detroit Tigers haven’t presented him with a contract extension offer. “And there won’t be an offer until the end of the season,” Skubal explained to USA Today. “My focus is on playing baseball and winning this year. I’ll deal with the contract stuff at the end of the year, and then we’ll kind of see. And that’s fine. It’s their decision.”
This lack of immediate commitment from Detroit has opened the door for other teams, including the Dodgers, to potentially pursue him aggressively.
Experts Weigh In
However, not everyone believes a Dodgers-Skubal pairing is likely. Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci expressed skepticism, emphasizing Skubal’s importance to the Tigers organization. “I’ve never really bought into that possibility, only because of how much he means to Detroit,” Verducci stated, as reported by Dodgers Nation. “The Dodgers do their due diligence. We all know that. And I think Tarik Skubal likely is not going to resign with the Tigers.”
Despite Verducci’s doubts, the image of Smith catching Skubal in the WBC is a tantalizing glimpse of what could be. For Dodgers fans, it’s a vision they’re eager to see become a reality.
Related: Check out Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz bringing Timmy Trumpet entrance to Team Puerto Rico and Watch Pat McAfee hit an ‘infield single’ vs. Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw.
