Tarik Skubal’s bet paid off.
The two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner won his arbitration case on Thursday, meaning he will make $32 million this year, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.
It’s a record salary for an arbitration-eligible player. The Tigers, on the other hand, offered $19 million.
The decision comes after rumors that the Tigers could trade Skubal, especially with one year left on his contract.
“I don’t believe in untouchable players at any level,” Detroit executive Scott Harris told MLB Network during the Winter Meetings in December: according to ESPN. “It’s not a commentary on Tarik; it’s more of a general approach to building a winning organization. My job is to make this organization better.”
Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball over the past two years. Despite starting his career with three seasons with an ERA above 3.00, Skubal led the American League in scoring in 2024 and 2025 in 2024 and 2025, respectively. He also reached the 200 strikeout plateau in both campaigns.
By winning back-to-back Cy Youngs, Skubal became the first pitcher to do so since Jacob deGrom in 2018 and ’19. A third consecutive streak would make him the first since Randy Johnson from 1999-2002.
In addition to Skubal’s decision, the Tigers have been busy lately. They signed former Astros left-hander Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal on Wednesday night, adding to a rotation that also includes Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize.
Valdez’s average annual value of $38.3 million marked the most by a left-hander in MLB history.
The deal makes it less likely that Detroit will move on from Skubal before he hits free agency, as the Tigers have shown they are willing to spend big to improve. They now have one of the best rotations in the league and are looking to build on their best postseason results since 2014 – back-to-back Divisional Round appearances.
And Skubal will be paid handsomely for his potential final year in Motor City.
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