Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has officially won his arbitration case, securing a historic $32 million salary for the 2026 MLB season and setting a new benchmark for arbitration-eligible players. The ruling came from a three-person independent panel that was required to choose either Skubal’s requested figure or the Tigers’ proposed salary—nothing in between.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the news, posting: “BREAKING: Two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case and will make $32 million this year, sources tell ESPN. Skubal’s bet to go for the largest salary ever in the arbitration system paid off, as he’ll make $13M more than Tigers argued.”
Skubal, 29, filed for $32 million with the help of agent Scott Boras, while Detroit countered at $19 million. The $13 million gap between the two sides marked the largest difference ever seen in an arbitration case. By siding with Skubal, the panel delivered the highest one-year arbitration salary in league history, topping the previous record of $31 million earned by Juan Soto in 2024, and also shattering the prior pitcher record of $19.75 million, set by David Price with the Tigers in 2015. Skubal earned $10.15 million in 2025, meaning the jump to $32 million represents the largest year-over-year increase ever awarded to a pitcher through arbitration, easily surpassing Jacob deGrom’s previous record raise.
The decision follows a Wednesday hearing in which both sides argued their valuations of Skubal, who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2026 season. Detroit, known as a “file-and-trial” organization, does not negotiate one-year contracts once figures are submitted, making the arbitration showdown all but inevitable.
Over the past two seasons, Skubal has been among the most overpowering pitchers in baseball, posting a combined 31–10 record with 469 strikeouts, a 0.91 WHIP and a .201 opponent batting average across 381 1/3 innings. In 2024, Skubal went 18–4 with a 2.39 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and an MLB-best 228 strikeouts in 192 innings. He captured the American League pitching Triple Crown in 2024, earned back-to-back Cy Young Awards, made consecutive All-Star teams, and was named to the All-MLB First Team in both seasons.
Skubal was even better in 2025, finishing 13–6 with a 2.21 ERA, a league-best 0.89 WHIP and 241 strikeouts over 195 1/3 innings, leading all major league pitchers in fWAR. He anchored Detroit’s rotation during its 2025 playoff run, helping the Tigers finish second in the AL Central at 87–75 and reach the AL Division Series. In three postseason starts, he logged 20 2/3 innings, allowed just four earned runs and struck out 36 batters while holding opponents to a .143 average.
Editorial credit: Popartic / Shutterstock.com
