The Detroit Tigers had the best pitcher in baseball in Tarik Skubal. He was, alarmingly, subject to trade rumors this offseason, and there’s still no guarantee he ends the season or begins the next one in a Tigers uniform. He’s going to be expensive, and his record-setting arbitration could certainly impact a future deal.
The Tigers clearly wanted to be shrewd and not spend the money required to sign him after his second straight Cy Young award. But then they signed Framber Valdez, one of the top pitchers on the market, to a three-year, $115 million deal. What does it mean for Skubal?
Tarik Skubal trade unlikely
On the one hand, you could argue that the addition of Framber Valdez, an ace through and through, makes Tarik Skubal a little more expendable, if such a horrid word can be used to describe the best pitcher in the sport.
With Valdez, they have insurance if Skubal leaves. They’d have an ace, albeit not one of the same caliber at all. However, it is far more likely that this means the Tigers aren’t planning on getting rid of Skubal. In fact, it seems like they’re essentially gearing up.
They made the playoffs and won another playoff series again in 2025, but they did so largely on the strength of Skubal. He alone couldn’t will them beyond the ALDS, but he did help get them there. So in adding Valdez, they now have one of the best one-two punches, and that will help in the postseason.
This means that everything doesn’t necessarily ride on Skubal. He will get his starts and will pitch as much as possible, but they don’t have to stress what comes after. In the past, there’s been some worry about winning the non-Skubal games. With Valdez, that wouldn’t be nearly as big an issue.
There was no chance they could get Valdez on a one-year deal to save money, but signing him to a shorter contract does suggest they’re not necessarily looking too deep into the future. Skubal could probably get an eight-year deal or more, even though he’s 29, so this short-term deal isn’t necessarily about locking down a dominant one-two punch.
It feels like the Tigers are aiming to go for it this year, at least as much as they have in the past. Valdez is great, but he’s no Skubal. While the future after 2026 is up in the air, for now, he is a Tiger. It is probably going to remain that way.
A long-term signing might be harder
As mentioned, the Tigers did not want to pay Tarik Skubal. The pitcher could’ve commanded an immense extension, but the Tigers did not want to do that. They still could, but all signs point to free agency (or a trade). Heading to arbitration and filing $13 million apart is unheard of.
None of that bodes well for the future. Skubal is going to cost a ton, even if he doesn’t win a third straight Cy Young. The Tigers will have to pay up. Someone else will if they do not. But with Valdez, the path to that contract is a little murkier.
The Tigers don’t have a salary cap to adhere to, but they’ve never been big spenders. If they were, this wouldn’t be a conversation. They’d have extended Skubal by now and called it a day. Instead, they clearly are hesitant to spend so much, which means spending $115 million over three years makes a mega contract for Skubal harder to envision.
For now, he remains with the Tigers, and it looks like he will finish his contract there. After that, it’s anyone’s guess where he will go.
Related Posts
