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The Detroit Tigers and shortstop Tarik Skubal came close to reaching an agreement on a 2026 contract ahead of Thursday’s 8 p.m. ET deadline, triggering an arbitration hearing.
Skubal, 29, sought a record $32 million in salary arbitration, while the Tigers countered with $19 million. The difference of 13 million dollars is a record if the case ends up going to hearing.
The two sides can settle at any time before the arbitration hearing, which is scheduled between January 26 and February 13. Players with more than three years of service can use arbitration to negotiate their salary for the upcoming season, and Skubal has more than five years.
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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) reacts after giving up a hit against the Minnesota Twins in the fourth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 14, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)
However, the wide gap between the two sides adds to the speculation that the Tigers may trade the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner. The Tigers only have Skubal under control for one more season and could trade him now and receive a massive return rather than let him walk next offseason for nothing in free agency if they choose not to re-sign him.
The $13 million gap between the two sides now could foreshadow what potential contract negotiations look like between the best pitcher in baseball and the Tigers.
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Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers looks on prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on September 30, 2025. (Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
If Skubal wins the case, he would break the record for an arbitration-eligible pitcher and set the record for the highest-paid arbitration-eligible player. David Price currently holds the record for pitchers with a $19.75 million deal with the Tigers in 2015.
Juan Soto set the record for the highest-paid arbitration-eligible player in 2024 when he agreed to a one-year, $31 million deal with the New York Yankees.
Last season, the Tigers and Skubal settled on a $10.15 million contract to avoid a hearing.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) looks on during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on July 12, 2025. (Daniel Kucin Jr./Imagn Images)
Skubal was dominant for the Tigers last season, going 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 31 starts in 195.1 innings. The combination of his upper-90s fastball and devastating changeup led to the southpaw racking up 241 strikeouts.
In 2024, when Skubal won his first Cy Young Award, he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 192 innings with 228 strikeouts.
