Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tarik Skubal demands what he's owed from Tigers after establishing his dominance

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 8:08 AM ET

Tarik Skubal has established himself as one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, winning the Cy Young Award in back-to-back seasons (2024, 2025).

Given his dominance and emergence as the best pitcher in baseball — with the Pittsburgh Pirates' Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes, being a close second — Skubal reportedly has asked the Tigers for a $32M salary for next season, as he enters the final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Tigers countered with a $19M offer (a $13M difference), which Skubal declined and will set up a historic salary-arbitration hearing in February.

The Tigers and Skubal can avoid a hearing if they agree on a contract extension, which is unlikely, as both sides are far apart on salary after the Tigers offered an extension worth less than $100M, when Skubal is seeking to be the highest-paid pitcher in baseball.

Two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal filed for a $32 million salary this year while the Detroit Tigers countered at $19 million, sources tell ESPN. The $13 million spread is by far the largest in salary-arbitration history and sets up for a fascinating hearing in February.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 9, 2026

Tarik Skubal deserves every penny he’s asking for from the Tigers

Skubal is clearly the best pitcher in baseball and is only getting better as he enters his age-29 season. In his second Cy Young Award season, Skubal got better, going 13-6 with an American League-leading 2.21 ERA (31 starts) and striking out a career high 241 batters in a career high 195.1 innings.

If he wins his case, Skubal’s demand of $32M would break New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto’s MLB record $31M, which he set with the New York Yankees in 2024, and blow past former Tiger and Cy Young Award winner (2012) David Price, who has the record for a pitcher at $19.75M in 2015.

Skubal has a good chance of winning his case and earning what he deserves. He’ll be able to compare himself to past pitchers who have high salaries and all his accomplishments, like his two All-Star appearances and being one of 12 pitchers to win the Cy Young back-to-back and one of 23 to win it multiple times.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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