"It's easy to argue that Detroit would not have made it to the postseason at all if not for ace Tarik Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner and 2025 Cy Young frontrunner. Over the past two seasons, Skubal has posted numbers that few pitchers can hope to match - 387 1/3 innings, 2.30 ERA, 31.2 K%, 4.5 BB% - and he's been essential to both of Detroit's runs into the playoffs for the past two years."
"Skubal won't be around forever, however. He's scheduled to hit free agency during the 2026-27 offseason. With just $28.3MM on the books in guaranteed contracts for 2027 according to RosterResource, one can argue that the Tigers must do whatever it takes to extend Skubal or re-sign him in free agency. An extension doesn't appear likely, though. If Skubal turns in a season anything like his 2024-25 campaigns, he could justifiably take aim at setting a new record among starting pitchers."
Detroit lost Game 5 of the ALDS to the Mariners in 15 innings after a season that began with the Tigers among baseball's best. Detroit slumped to a 34-43 record from the start of July and surrendered the AL Central despite an 11.5-game lead on August 23. The Tigers beat the Guardians in the AL Wild Card Series to reach the postseason. Tarik Skubal posted 387 1/3 innings, a 2.30 ERA, a 31.2% strikeout rate and a 4.5% walk rate. Skubal is scheduled for free agency in the 2026-27 offseason. Guaranteed contracts for 2027 total roughly $28.3 million, and the franchise-high contract remains Miguel Cabrera's eight-year, $248 million deal.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]