Tigers, Tarik Skubal fail to reach deal, face record $13M salary gap as trade rumors swirl

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The Detroit Tigers and star pitcher Tarik Skubal did not come close to an agreement on a 2026 contract prior to the 8 p.m. ET deadline Thursday, setting up an arbitration hearing.

Skubal, 29, sought a record $32 million in salary arbitration while the Tigers countered with an offer of $19 million. The $13 million difference is a record if the case ends up going to a hearing.

The two sides could settle at any time before an arbitration hearing, which is scheduled between Jan. 26 and Feb. 13.  Players with more than three years of service time can use arbitration to negotiate their salaries for an upcoming season, and Skubal has more than five years in.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after giving up a hit against the Minnesota Twins in the fourth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis Aug. 14, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)

However, the wide gap between the two sides adds to speculation the Tigers might trade the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner. The Tigers only have Skubal under control for one more season and could trade him now and receive a massive return instead of letting him walk next offseason for nothing in free agency if they opt not to re-sign him.

The $13 million gap between the two sides now could foreshadow what potential contract negotiations look like between the best pitcher in baseball and the Tigers.

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Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland Sept. 30, 2025. (Grace Hoppel/MLB