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The Detroit Tigers and star pitcher Tarik Skubal failed to reach an agreement on a 2026 contract before the 8 p.m. ET deadline Thursday, setting up an arbitration hearing.
Skubal, 29, requested a record $32 million in salary arbitration, while the Tigers countered with $19 million. The difference of $13 million would be a record if the case ends up being heard.
The two sides could settle at any time before the arbitration hearing, scheduled between January 26 and February 13. Players with more than three years of seniority can use arbitration to negotiate their salaries 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 large gap between the two teams adds to speculation that the Tigers could 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 instead of letting him walk for free next offseason in free agency if they choose not to re-sign him.
The $13 million gap between the two sides could foreshadow what potential contract negotiations will look like between baseball’s best pitcher and the Tigers.
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Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers looks on before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on September 30, 2025. (Photos by Grace Hoppel/MLB 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 pitching record with a $19.75 million deal with the Tigers in 2015.
Juan Soto set the record for highest-paid arbitration-eligible player in 2024 when he agreed to a one-year contract worth $31 million with the New York Yankees.
Last season, the Tigers and Skubal agreed to 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 dominated the Tigers last season, going 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 31 starts in 195.1 innings pitched. The combination of his high-90s fastball and devastating changeup led the southpaw to rack 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 pitched with 228 strikeouts.
