MLB news: Tigers, Tarik Skubal fail to reach deal, face record $13 million gap
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The Detroit Tigers and star pitcher Tarik Skubal failed to reach an agreement on a 2026 contract before 8 p.m. Thursday and held an arbitration hearing.
Skubal, 29, requested a record $32 million in salary arbitration, and the Tigers responded with $19 million. If the case goes to trial, the difference of $13 million will be a record difference.
The two parties can reach an agreement at any time before the arbitration hearing, which is scheduled for January 26 through February 13. Players with more than three years of service can seek arbitration to negotiate their salaries for next season, and Skubal has more than five years.
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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) reacts after giving up a fourth hit against the Minnesota Twins on August 14, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)
But the huge difference between the two sides is fueling speculation that the Tigers could trade the two-time American League Cy Young winner. The Tigers only keep Skubal under control for one more season, and if they choose not to re-sign him, they could trade him now and get a big return instead of letting him walk for free in free agency next season.
The $13 million difference between the two sides could be a harbinger of what potential contract negotiations between baseball’s best pitcher and the Tigers will look like.
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Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers looks on before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
If Skubal wins the case, he will break the record for arbitration-eligible pitcher and the highest-paid arbitration-eligible player. David Price currently holds the pitcher’s record with his 2015 $19.75 million deal with the Tigers.
Juan Soto broke the record for the highest-paid arbitration-eligible player in 2024 by agreeing to a one-year, $31 million deal with the New York Yankees.
Last season, the Tigers and Skubal agreed to a $10.15 million contract to avoid a trial.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) watches his seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 12, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Daniel Kucin Jr./Imagn Images)
Skubal was dominant for the Tigers last season, going 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 195.1 innings pitched in 31 starts. The combination of his upper-90s fastball and devastating changeup led the left-hander to strike out .241.
In 2024, when Skubal won his first Cy Young Award, he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA with 228 strikeouts in 192 innings.
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