The Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal were heading towards an arbitration hearing, and the panel sided with Skubal, making it so he landed a $32 million contract for the 2026 season.

It smashed numerous records, including the previous one held by David Price for the highest arbitration salary for a pitcher in their third year of arbitration ($19,750,000).

But, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Tigers actually offered Skubal $750,000 less than Price’s record in a sign of ultimate disrespect to the two-time Cy Young award winner.

Tigers offered Skubal less than a record-setting arbitration contract

“In initial negotiations, the parties came up with the brilliant idea to offer Tarik Skubal a minimal raise over the record $19.75 million for a pitcher in arbitration,” Rosenthal writes. “… And then, in the former exchange of potential salaries, the Tigers offered their back-to-back American League Cy Young winner $750,000 less than Price.”

Offering Skubal a contract less than Price’s from his arbitration hearing over a decade ago was a massive slight to the two-time Cy Young pitcher.

While the increase from $19 million to $32 million would break the record for the largest increase in MLB history in arbitration, the MLB and the Tigers reportedly “believed” the panel wouldn’t give Skubal such a massive increase.

The panel ended up siding with Skubal and his $32 million contract demand. But, had the Tigers and MLB instead landed somewhere in the $20 millions, they might not have lost in arbitration.

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But this massive gap was bridged thanks to Skubal’s special circumstances as a back-to-back Cy Young winner. It was the first time a pitcher had done so since Pedro Martinez in the AL.

If he were a free agent, he would’ve landed a deal well north of $32 million per-year. He probably is headed towards a $40 million plus contract when he hits free agency.

For the Tigers to offer significantly less than Price’s record set 11 years ago is a massive sign of disrespect for Skubal. He was clearly deserving of more, and this lowball offer from the Tigers didn’t go to plan.

The two sides might have a fractured relationship, making Skubal’s odds of re-signing with the team lower than they already were. But, at least for Tigers fans, they will have the 2026 season to root for Skubal and Framber Valdez to lead the rotation.

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