Star left-hander Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers failed to reach a contract before Thursday’s deadline to avoid arbitration, setting up a showdown in which the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner is seeking a record $32 million in salary arbitration.
The Tigers countered with $19 million, causing a record $13 million spread if the case goes to a hearing. Though the parties can settle between now and a hearing that would take place in February, the Tigers are historically a “file-and-trial” team. If they cannot work out a multiyear extension — and Skubal, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, likely won’t with free agency beckoning after this season — the Tigers will take their case to a hearing, pitting the sides against one another.
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Players with more than three years of major league service time can use arbitration to negotiate their salaries for the upcoming season with clubs. If the two sides don’t come to terms on a deal by the 8 p.m. deadline, they swap salary numbers that they take into an arbitration hearing. Hearings this year are scheduled from Jan. 26 to Feb. 13 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
If Skubal wins the case, he would break the record for the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player. Juan Soto set the mark when he settled for a $31 million deal with the New York Yankees in 2024. David Price holds the record salary for an arbitration-eligible pitcher, a $19.75 million agreement with the Tigers in 2015. Jacob deGrom received the biggest raise for an arbitration-eligible pitcher ($9.6 million) in 2019, jumping from $7.4 million to $17 million in a deal with the New York Mets.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. holds the record for the highest salary decided by a panel at $19.9 million in 2024.
The Tigers haven’t gone to an arbitration hearing with a player since 2001; they won their case against right-hander Michael Fulmer in 2019. Last year, Skubal and the Tigers settled on a $10.15 million contract to avoid a hearing.
Two uncommon stipulations could help Skubal win his case. The first allows players with at least five years of service time to compare themselves to not just past arbitration-eligible players, but every other player, permitting Skubal to compare himself to past pitchers with the highest salaries. The second are his “special accomplishments,” which any player who has set records or earned awards can present. Skubal is one of 12 pitchers to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards and one of 23 pitchers to win the award multiple times.
Whatever the outcome, Skubal will receive a hefty raise after recording a 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts in 195⅓ innings across 31 starts as the staff ace for a club that reached the postseason for the second consecutive year.
Skubal was one of 166 players eligible for arbitration entering Thursday, and he’s one of 18 players who did not settle on a salary for the 2026 season before Thursday’s deadline. Other players without a deal include Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes; Milwaukee Brewers infielder William Contreras; Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson; Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan; Kansas City Royals starter Kris Bubic and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino; Astros catcher Yainer Diaz; and Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish.
On the other end, the Seattle Mariners and outfielder Randy Arozarena agreed to a $15.65 million salary in his final year of arbitration, the highest number for a settlement in baseball this year. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson settled at $8.5 million, setting the franchise record for a player in his first year of arbitration.
The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Edward Cabrera, whom they acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, settled at $4.45 million.
Other players who finalized deals Thursday include:
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