Over the past two seasons, Tarik Skubal has been nothing short of exceptional for the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, signs are pointing toward those being two of his final seasons with the club.
Skubal, who avoided arbitration with a one-year, $10.5 million contract for 2025, is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility in 2026. Unless he signs a contract extension with the Tigers, he is set to become a free agent after next year.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award and Triple Crown winner is clearly in position to demand a record-setting deal for a pitcher in free agency, and the lack of any real progress on extension talks with the Tigers suggests that he may have already priced himself out of their budget.