On arbitration deadline day, the Tigers and Tarik Skubal were unable to come to an agreement on a contract for 2026, his last year of arbitration eligibility ahead of free agency. Figures revealed after the initial news were startling: the Tigers filed at $19 million, Skubal filed at $32 million. There's still time to negotiate before both sides have to appear before an arbitration panel, but that's an astounding gap to try to bridge.
Inevitably, discourse followed. Skubal's argument can be summed up in five words: two-time Cy Young winner. The Tigers' argument might be a little more complex, but it's a lot harder to sell.