Arya News - The 29-year-old lefty is the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner.
A three-person independent arbitration panel has awarded Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal a $32 million contract for the 2026 MLB season, ESPN"s Jeff Passan reported Thursday. It is a one-year deal for Skubal, 29, and he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next offseason.
A Wednesday hearing saw both the Tigers and Skubal present their cases for what the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner should earn for the 2026 season. Prior to the hearing, Skubal"s agent, Scott Boras, asked for an arbitration-record salary of $32 million — $1 million more than the $31 million Juan Soto got in 2024 with the New York Yankees. The Tigers proposed $19 million, and the $13 million difference in filings was the largest in MLB arbitration history .
The panel was tasked with selecting one of the two numbers from Skubal and the Tigers, not determining an amount between the totals.
The previous arbitration record for a pitcher was $19.75 million, which was awarded to former Tigers lefty David Price in 2015. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr."s $19.9 million salary in 2024 was the highest total in an arbitration case decided by a panel. Jeanne Charles and Walt De Treaux, who were on the panel for Guerrero"s decision, were also part of the Skubal hearing.
Skubal"s was the third arbitration case decision this offseason, with the previous two also going the player"s way. Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million over the team"s ask of $2.875 millio, and Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million rather than the $3 million the team proposed.
Seven more players have arbitration hearings scheduled, including Milwaukee Brewers catcher Willson Contreras, Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic and Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson.
The 29-year-old Skubal has been one of the best pitchers in baseball the past two seasons, compiling a 31-10 record with 469 strikeouts, a 0.91 WHIP and a .201 opponent batting average in 381 1/3 innings pitched. He"s a two-time All-Star and All-MLB first-team player, he won the pitching Triple Crown in 2024, and he"s one of six players who have won multiple Cy Youngs in the past 15 years.
Last season, Skubal led the Tigers pitching staff backed by Jack Flaherty and Case Mize. Detroit finished second in the AL Central with an 87-75 record and reached the ALDS, in which they lost to the Seattle Mariners in five games.
Skubal, who will be one of Team USA"s top arms at next month"s World Baseball Classic, won one of his three postseason starts, pitching 20 2/3 innings and allowing four earned runs while striking out 36 with opponents batting .143 against him.