The Detroit Tigers and star pitcher Tarik Skubal are still millions away in salary negotiation talks as their arbitration hearing was held Wednesday.
The Detroit Tigers and ace Tarik Skubal were unable to come to an agreement ahead of their scheduled salary arbitration hearing, and the two sides met on Wednesday in Scottsdale, Az., to present their cases in what could end up being record-setting. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and agent Scott Boras are asking for $32 million dollars, but the Tigers only offered $19 million. Should Skubal be successful in the hearing and have his number selected by the arbitrator, he would set a new record.
The arbitration record was set by Juan Soto with the New York Yankees two years ago for $31 million. Skubal made $10 million last season, while the largest arbitration raise for a starting pitcher was set by Jacob deGrom at $9.6 million. The largest salary awarded to a starting pitcher went to David Price who received $19.75 million in 2015. Skubal is eligible for free agency after the World Series, with a career 3.08 ERA in six seasons and a 54-37 record.
Here is the full story from Tigers Roundtable writer on the stakes of the arbitration, among other Detroit updates.
Without coming to a compromise for the $13 million gap, the Tigers haven’t really made a splash move this offseason for another ace or a bat. But Skubal is looking to make baseball history as the two-time reigning Cy Young award winner, who is in his third and final arbitration before he hits free agency. He will first look to set a record as the highest arbitration salary for a starting pitcher, with the resume to match.