If the Tigers want to get on pitcher Tarik Skubal’s good side ahead of his contract year, they appear to be starting off on the wrong foot.
Detroit and Skubal are a record amount of money apart in salary-arbitration negotiations for the 2026 season, according to a Thursday evening report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Per Passan, Skubal requested $32 million in ‘26 while the Tigers countered with just $19 million.
The gap follows a second straight terrific season for Skubal, the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner. Skubal went 13-6 in 31 starts with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings pitched.
Skubal is due to become a free agent after the ‘26 season if not extended, and trade rumors have surrounded him all offseason. The pitcher, for his part, has expressed a desire to remain in Michigan.
“It’s not like I want to be traded, so it’s kind of like, why am I in these conversations?” Skubal told Foul Territory in November. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t really impact what I do day-to-day.”
More MLB on Sports Illustrated
- Rob Manfred Says MLB Considering In-Season Tournament and Other Schedule Changes
- Yankees' Interest Level in Bo Bichette Updated Amid Stalling Negotiations With Another Star
- How Each Last-Place MLB Team Can Go From Worst to First in 2026
- Rockies Agree to One-Year Deal With Former All-Star Righty Michael Lorenzen
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Tarik Skubal, Tigers Historically Far Apart in Salary Arbitration for 2026 Season.
