The Detroit Tigers were bounced out of the MLB playoffs by the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS that lasted 15 innings. It's an instant classic, and in the first half of the game, the Tigers had their ace Tarik Skubal on the mound.
He was, once again, dominant. He went six innings, striking out 13 batters, and allowing only two hits and one run. Earlier against the Mariners in the ALDS, he went seven innings, allowed two runs, and struck out nine batters. But the Tigers lost both games.
With the final year of Skubal's deal coming up in 2026, there were a lot of questions regarding his future with the team at the end-of-year press conference. However, as Larry Lage of The Associated Press shared, Tigers' general manager Scott Harris was confident in the ability to re-sign Skubal to a long-term extension.
Tigers GM confident in having the resources to extend Tarik Skubal
"Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris said he extended manager A.J. Hinch's contract during the 2025 season and insisted ownership will provide the resources necessary to sign ace Tarik Skubal to a long-term deal," Lage writes.
This report is a very encouraging one for the Tigers, as being able to keep Skubal would be a significant boost to the team's World Series and playoff odds. Having a superstar pitcher like Skubal would be huge, especially for a team like Detroit that's going to rely on younger hitters heading into the future.
But if the Tigers can't retain Skubal, it'd be a complete disaster. Seeing a star like Skubal leave, with the ownership not willing to pay him his worth, would not just be a short-term issue, but a long-term one for homegrown talent.
Harris revealing that ownership is, at the very least, willing to spend a fortune to keep Skubal is a great sign. It wouldn't be surprising if the Tigers backed out of his upcoming free agent talks, since his deal could very easily climb to above $400 million.
More: Tigers owner Chris Ilitch comments on a Tarik Skubal extension after Wild Card win
The 28-year-old is going to be a free agent after the 2026 MLB season and will have plenty of suitors. It won't be a cheap deal by any means, as owner Chris Illitch will need to spend a lot of money to extend such a player. But, as Harris said, "I have no concerns about that."
Skubal is likely to win the AL Cy Young in 2025, just like he did in 2024. He had a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts this season, both career highs. Even though he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2024, with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts, his 2025 season was even better.
Letting a player like Skubal walk would be a complete disaster, and while extending him won't be easy, the comments from Harris are a good sign that, at the very least, the Tigers will be willing to spend a lot on Skubal.
The Tigers left-hander could still hit the open market after 2026, but even if he does, the Tigers will be right there, willing to offer him a likely record-setting contract.
More Tigers News:
- Tigers make ridiculous MLB postseason history with wild card series win over Guardians
- Tigers' Tarik Skubal joins elite company with stellar outing, but not enough to beat Mariners
- Tigers-Mariners ending: Detroit's Zach McKinstry drives in winning run in 11th inning of ALDS Game 1
- Tigers owner shares interesting belief after Wild Card win over the Guardians