Detroit Tigers' historic $250M rift with Tarik Skubal sends clear message for Cy Young arm's future

Hunter Cookston

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Detroit Tigers' historic $250M rift with Tarik Skubal sends clear message for Cy Young arm's future image


The Detroit Tigers are heading into what could be a very interesting 2026 season, as they’ll have to manage both Tarik Skubal’s future and his contract situation. The team is facing a major decision when it comes to their ace. However, Skubal may not be entirely happy with the organization after manager A.J. Hinch pulled him from a win-or-go-home game before he even reached 100 pitches.

“Easy decision," Hinch said about removing Skubal. "After the fifth, I checked in on him how he was doing physically and emotionally, and we both knew that he had one left. You know, he emptied his tank and obviously was emotional coming off the mound, and I think that signals exactly where we were in the game. He gave us everything he could."

The Tigers currently have one of the best arms in the league on their roster, but for whatever reason, they haven’t locked him down long term. With Scott Boras as his agent, it’s very clear that if Skubal reaches free agency, there will be a massive bidding war.

“Two things I believe to be true. 1. Scott Boras and Tarik Skubal want to hit free agency a year from now. No extension this offseason. 2. The Tigers are not going all in to win with Skubal in 2026,” 97.1 The Ticket’s Jim Costa posted.

The Tigers do have interest in extending Skubal, but reports indicate there is a massive financial gap between the two sides.

“The Tigers and superstar pitcher Tarik Skubal have a lot of work to do if they’re going to bridge quite possibly the biggest gap in MLB negotiating history: an estimated quarter of a billion dollars. Yep, that’s not a misprint. It’s close to $250 million,” New York Post’s Jon Heyman wrote.

This is not a good sign for the Tigers, as Skubal appears destined to hit free agency barring a dramatic change in direction. Detroit has one of the best pitchers in baseball, yet seems unwilling to meet his market value.

At the end of the day, Skubal is going to get his money — whether it’s from the Tigers or someone else. If Detroit refuses to spend big, they’re likely to let him walk, eventually ending his tenure with the team.

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Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.