Tarik Skubal's attempt to clear up unflattering new narrative might've made things worse

Tigers fans' slowly souring relationship with Tarik Skubal took a nosedive this week, when Skubal admitted that he'd felt discomfort in his elbow as early as January but did not get an MRI. He made things even worse when he suggested that his upcoming arbitration fight against the team affected his decision-making as to whether or not to report the issue.

It was the kind of admission that had even the most loyal Skubal fans distancing themselves from him. Skubal might privately love the Tigers and Detroit as much as he has professed to, but he is also going to do what it takes to protect his financial interests, even if it's to the detriment of his team. That's hard to accept.

Skubal spoke to the media at length ahead of the Tigers' Thursday game against the Royals, most likely to do some damage control after making those comments. He insisted that he does not want to be traded — a stance he's maintained for some time now — and that he believes the Tigers can win the World Series this season.

However, he also acknowledged that his relationship with the front office has been strained since their arbitration hearing.

"Of course when you take a player to arbitration there's not a ton of positive things that come out of that process, relationship-wise," he said. "My relationship with the coaching staff and the players and my teammates, it's the same as it always is. But as far as going through that process and sitting in that room, you guys should go experience that for yourselves."

Tarik Skubal admits to fraught relationship with Tigers front office after arbitration

This is exactly what Tigers fans were afraid of when the $13 million gap between the two parties was initially reported, and neither seemed interested in meeting in the middle ahead of an arbitration hearing. The Tigers did lowball Skubal, and then they had to go in front of a panel and talk about why he wasn't worth as much money as he thought he was. Tigers fans knew it was likely to kill even the tiniest possibility that they might be able to extend him, and he basically just confirmed that himself.

But Skubal also didn't totally shoot down the notion that his failure to report discomfort was because of the arbitration debacle. Basically, it's impossible to be happy with anyone in this scenario.

Multiple things can be true at once. Skubal can love the Tigers and Detroit, but also be okay with leaving to whatever team is willing to pay him $400 million. Hurt feelings over the arbitration issue are valid, but it's also deeply selfish if he let them get in the way of disclosing a potentially serious injury. Tigers fans can love him but be disappointed in him, or we can hate him but still acknowledge that we're a better team with him.

Maybe everyone's a bad guy here, and maybe that's what makes this all so disappointing.

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