Unless the world ends or BBWAA members all lose their minds, Tarik Skubal will win his second straight Cy Young award once the postseason is over. This inevitable feat makes rumors of a possible trade even crazier, although recent reports regarding the state of his contract negotiations with the Tigers make it feel more plausible. Jon Heyman tweeted that they were about $250 million apart a year ago, and there have been no indications that progress has been made.
That gap alone would rank No. 20 all-time among the largest MLB contracts, so it’s clear Skubal will be seeking something much larger.