Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal made history on Thursday without setting foot on the mound.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Skubal won his arbitration hearing over the Tigers and will receive $32 million in 2026. The Tigers, meanwhile, had filed for $19 million. Skubal now holds the record for the largest contract for any arbitration-eligible player, shattering the record for pitchers set by David Price’s $19.75 million salary in 2015, and topping outfielder Juan Soto ($31 million in 2024).
Skubal has arguably been the best pitcher in the majors over the past two years. He posted a 2.30 ERA and a 0.906 WHIP over his 387.1 innings, striking out 469 batters with 686 walks. Skubal won the AL Cy Young Award in both years, becoming the 12th pitcher in MLB history to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
Tarik Skubal’s victory over Tigers may set up a future blueprint for arbitration cases
With this victory, Skubal may have set a precedent for future arbitration cases. Agent Scott Boras had utilized a clause in the league’s collective bargaining agreement that allowed players with five or more years of major league service time to compare themselves to free-agent cases rather than to prior arbitration results.
While it is unlikely that this clause will affect many other arbitration cases, some players could use it going forward. Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is eligible for arbitration after the 2026 season and make the same argument in 2028. If players such as A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz and Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz do not sign long-term extensions and continue to perform well, they could benefit from Skubal’s victory.
In reality, Skubal would likely earn more than $32 million per year as a free agent. However, by winning his case, he has established a blueprint that other players could use, provided the next CBA does not eliminate that clause.