Tigers and Tarik Skubal unable to agree on a contract, encounter $13 million difference

Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal Enter Arbitration

The Detroit Tigers are currently in arbitration with their star pitcher Tarik Skubal due to a contract disagreement for the 2026 season. The deadline for reaching an agreement was set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, but both sides were unable to finalize the terms.

Skubal, who is 29, has requested an impressive $32 million for next season, which would set a record for annual salary arbitration. In contrast, the Tigers have proposed $19 million. If this case progresses to a hearing, the $13 million disparity would mark another record in the arbitration process.

It’s still possible for the parties to settle before the arbitration hearing, which is scheduled to occur between January 26th and February 13th. Players with three or more years of experience often use arbitration to negotiate salaries for the upcoming season, and Skubal’s contracts generally span five years or more.

The significant gap in negotiation may lead to speculation about a trade. Given that the Tigers have control over Skubal for only one more season, trading him now could yield a substantial return rather than allowing him to leave as a free agent after next season.

This $13 million difference might foreshadow future contract negotiations between the pitcher and the Tigers. Should Skubal win his arbitration case, it could break records for arbitration-eligible pitchers and mark him as the highest-paid player under such conditions. Currently, the record for pitchers is held by David Price, who signed a contract worth $19.75 million with the Tigers in 2015.

Meanwhile, Juan Soto made headlines with a one-year, $31 million agreement with the New York Yankees in 2024, the highest for any player in arbitration. Last year, the Tigers managed to settle with Skubal for $10.15 million to evade a hearing.

Skubal excelled last season, making 31 starts and pitching 195.1 innings with a striking 13-6 record and a 2.21 ERA, complemented by a mix of a high-90s fastball and a powerful changeup that led to 241 strikeouts.