Tarik Skubal's Value Soars: Contract Demands and MLB Player Praise
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Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is rapidly becoming one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. Fresh off an American League Cy Young Award-winning season, Skubal's performance in 2025 has been even more impressive, fueling discussions about his future contract and earning him high praise from fellow MLB players.
Skubal's Contract Demands: Not Taking a Discount
As the Tigers look to build a sustained run of success, securing their core talent is a priority. While they've already locked up infielder Colt Keith, negotiations with Skubal are ongoing. Recently, on the Pardon My Take podcast, Skubal jokingly entertained a hypothetical 10-year, $425 million contract extension. When asked if a $420 million deal would suffice, he replied, "That sounds good." While much of his appearance was lighthearted, the message was clear: Skubal isn't likely to offer the Tigers a hometown discount.
Skubal is under team control through the 2026 season and is set to become a free agent ahead of the 2027 season unless an extension is agreed upon. He and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $10.15 million contract on Jan. 9, avoiding arbitration. Tigers President Scott Harris has remained non-committal when publicly addressing a potential Skubal extension.
MLB Players Recognize Skubal's Dominance
Skubal's performance hasn't gone unnoticed by his peers. In a recent anonymous poll of 135 MLB players by The Athletic, Skubal received rave reviews. One player described him as "nasty for everybody," praising his hard stuff, changeup, and overall deception.
When asked which pitcher they would least want to face in Game 7 of the World Series, Skubal was the second-most frequent answer, trailing only veteran Chris Sale. One player stated that Skubal has "a decent lead over anybody else" due to his exceptional fastball and improved off-speed pitches.
Skubal's numbers back up the praise. He boasts a 2.16 ERA (8th in MLB) and an MLB-leading 105 strikeouts to just seven walks through 13 starts. Left-handed hitters have particularly struggled against him, batting just .159 with an astonishing 24.00 K/BB ratio in 2025.
The Future of Skubal in Detroit
With the Tigers leading the AL Central, the pressure to secure Skubal long-term is mounting. His Cy Young Award-winning campaign in 2024 and continued dominance in 2025 have significantly increased his value. Whether the Tigers are willing to meet Skubal's demands remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Tarik Skubal is a force to be reckoned with and a key piece of Detroit's future.