Players all around baseball were reaching contract agreements on Thursday.
It was the deadline for MLB teams and arbitration-eligible players to reach terms before having to actually go through the arbitration process.
Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers, while potentially able to reach such an agreement, didn't.
This is what USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported on X:
"No settlement was reached today in the Tarik Skubal salary arbitration negotiations. The two sides could still reach an agreement before an arbitration hearing later this month, but as of now they're scheduled for a hearing."
MORE: Guardians take a step forward with Steven Kwan
Any slightly negative news around Skubal looms larger because of the potential for him to be traded.
This also comes against a backdrop where Skubal could be looking at the largest contract ever for a pitcher if he signs an extension with the Tigers (or with a new team after a trade).
Skubal is going to make a lot of money, from someone, eventually.
There are just a lot of possible permutations here that have yet to be figured out.
Skubal is the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, one of the two best pitchers on the planet, along with Paul Skenes.
The Tigers obviously would like to keep Skubal. You don't just want to give up an ace.
But if they don't believe they can keep him long-term, it could serve them to get assets for him now rather than lose him for nothing later.
It's still a situation that will have all eyes on it until some kind of conclusion is reached.
More MLB news:
- Team USA's projected WBC lineup is incredible
- Dominican Republic's projected WBC lineup is fierce
- Reds have a promising prospect named Ichiro Cano
- It's a good day to remember Bob Feller's brilliance and his time in the U.S. Navy
- How Aroldis Chapman is able to pitch for Great Britain in the WBC
- Hunter Pence's nephew has the best name and a 100 MPH fastball