The best pitcher in baseball can\u2019t even get paid.<\/p>\n
Tarik Skubal revealed that the Tigers never extended an official offer this winter to sign him to a long-term extension.<\/p>\n
Instead, the two-time Cy Young Award winner will likely enter free agency next offseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no offer, and there won\u2019t be an offer until the end of the season,\u201d Skubal told USA Today<\/a>. \u201cMy focus is on playing baseball and winning this year. I\u2019ll deal with the contract stuff at the end of the year, and then we\u2019ll kind of see. And that\u2019s fine. It\u2019s their decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Skubal added that Detroit didn\u2019t even bother negotiating with him during arbitration \u2014 which ended in a record $32 million win<\/a> for the ace.<\/p>\n The Tigers\u2019 only long-term offer to Skubal came two years ago for less than $80 million, with The Post\u2019s Jon Heyman reporting in October that the parties faced a $250 million gap<\/a>.<\/p>\n Detroit owner Chris Ilitch didn\u2019t make the situation any clearer<\/a> either, saying \u201clet\u2019s see how it all plays out\u201d earlier this week.<\/p>\n Tarik Skubal plans to throw 55 pitches in his lone World Baseball Classic start for Team USA. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n \u201cI would say (Tigers general manager) Scott Harris is always looking to make smart baseball decisions,\u201d Ilitch said, per The Athletic<\/a>. \u201cI hope it\u2019s clear I want to support our team to make sure that we are a championship-caliber organization.\u201d<\/p>\n Skubal, meanwhile, just wants to focus on the upcoming season.<\/p>\n