Tarik Skubal’s bet has paid off.
The two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner won his arbitration case Thursday, meaning he’ll make $32 million this year, per 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 remaining on his contract.
“I don’t believe in untouchable players at any level,” Detroit top executive Scott Harris told MLB Network during the Winter Meetings in December, per ESPN. “It’s not a commentary on Tarik; it’s more of a blanket approach to building a winning organization. My job is to make this organization better.”
Skubal has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball across the last two years. Despite starting his career with three seasons holding an ERA above 3.00, Skubal has led the American League with 2.39 and 2.21 marks in 2024 and 2025, respectively. He also hit 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 straight would make him the first since Randy Johnson from 1999-2002.
Besides Skubal’s decision, the Tigers have been busy as of late. They signed former Astros left-hander Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal Wednesday night, adding to a rotation that also consists of Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize.
Valdez’s $38.3 million average annual value marked the most by a southpaw in MLB history.
The deal makes it less likely that Detroit will ship off Skubal before he hits free agency, since the Tigers have shown they’re willing to spend big to improve. They now boast one of the top rotations in the league and look to build off their best postseason finishes — two straight Divisional round appearances — since 2014.
And Skubal will be paid handsomely for his potential final year in Motor City.
