Two-time Cy Young award winner makes massive MLB contract demand

Tarik Skubal’s arbitration hearing is set for today, and the result has ramifications far beyond the perceived value of the best pitcher in baseball. You see, Skubal didn’t just file for arbitration – he basically walked into the room, slid a number across the table, and dared the Detroit Tigers (and potentially the entire league) to blink. $32 million. For one year. In arbitration. That’s not a salary request, friends. That’s a declaration that the old rules of baseball’s pay structure are getting nuked.

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How this could play out: Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; American League pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the first inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; American League pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the first inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Detroit countered at $19 million, which is the polite way of saying “absolutely not.” The gap matters here because arbitration is supposed to be the meet-in-the-middle mechanism – a bridge, if you will. And make no mistake – Skubal just turned that bridge into a launch pad.

If Skubal wins? We’re talking record territory. Pitchers haven’t lived anywhere near this neighborhood in arbitration, and it would vault past the sport’s prior benchmarks. And Skubal has the ammo: he’s coming off a monster year and has built a résumé that demands he’s paid like an ace. The question is – will he remain Detroit’s ace?

What happens if Skubal isn’t happy? Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal high-fives teammates in the dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal high-fives teammates in the dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Now add the manufactured spice – Scott Boras. Which means the number isn’t random. Boras doesn’t just negotiate; he builds leverage. Skubal’s case is a billboard for what elite pitching costs now, and it’s also a warning shot aimed at the Tigers’ long-term plans: either treat him like a franchise cornerstone… or start taking calls.

And that’s where MLB’s broader money panic comes in. Arbitration has long been viewed as team-friendly, but the moment a star pitcher turns it into a $30M-plus stage, the cap conversation is front and center. Not because they’re broke. But because they hate uncertainty. Arbitration is unpredictable, and owners despise unpredictable expenses almost as much as they despise paying for prime years.

Detroit can still settle. They can still try to pivot to a multi-year deal. But Skubal’s filing tells you exactly what time it is. The player side is pulling every lever available before free agency, and the best players are no longer waiting politely to get paid later. Skubal didn’t just raise his price. He reframed the entire labor conversation.

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