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Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal made MLB history Thursday as he reportedly won his arbitration case that will net him $32 million this season of his team’s proposed $19 million salary.
Skubal, who won his second straight American League Cy Young Award in 2025, benefited from a decision by a three-person salary arbitration panel, ESPN reported.
Skubal’s victory marks a new record for salary awarded to a player in the million-dollar arbitration system. The New York Yankees avoided arbitration with Juan Soto in January 2024, giving him a $31 million contract for that year.
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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)
Skubal was in a unique position before arbitration with more than five years of service, while also being able to use the “special achievement” clause, which allows him to win Cy Young Awards. This allowed Skubal to compare not only his proposed salary to those who went to arbitration, but also to the rest of the league.
As a result, Skubal could draft pitchers like Zack Wheeler ($42 million), Jacob deGrom ($38 million) and Gerrit Cole ($36 million) by 2026.
TIGERS AND TARIK SKUBAL FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT, FACE RECORD $13M SALARY GAP AS TRADE RUMORS TURNS
The Tigers’ previous record was $19.75 million paid to David Price, another talented lefty in the organization, to avoid a hearing in 2015. It depended on the panel’s decisions, but ultimately Skubal remains a Tigers pitcher through 2026.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal gives a high-five to his teammates in the dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
As for his future, Skubal is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2026 season, although a lot can happen between now and then. This arbitration victory does not confirm that he will spend the entire season in Detroit, especially given the trade rumors that have swirled within the organization.
The Tigers boosted their chances of repeating as AL Central champions, however, by acquiring veteran left-hander Framer Valdez via free agency. They signed a three-year, $115 million deal with Valdez on Wednesday, hours before the panel’s decision on Skubal.
Now, Detroit enters the season as one of the best one-two punches in a starting rotation in MLB.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on September 6, 2025. (Rick Osentoski/Imagn Images)
After a fantastic 2024 campaign that ended with some well-deserved hardware, Skubal followed up with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA over 195.1 innings in 31 starts. He also struck out 241 batters, 13 more than his league-leading mark the year before.
