The Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal are on a collision course with salary arbitration, but according to agent Scott Boras, the door to a deal is still wide open.
After Detroit made an initial offer of $19.8 million for the 2026 season, both sides exchanged arbitration figures ahead of the Jan. 8 deadline. The Tigers filed at $19 million, while Skubal countered at $32 million, creating a massive $13 million gap that all but guarantees a hearing in late January or early February unless a deal is struck beforehand.
Once that hearing begins, a panel of arbitrators will choose one number or the other — no middle ground, no compromise.
Why the Tigers and Boras See Skubal’s Value Differently
Reports suggested the Tigers believed Boras was unwilling to negotiate after the club made its initial offer. Boras strongly disagrees, saying the real issue wasn’t effort — it was valuation.
“In this process, we reached an agreement on [first baseman Spencer] Torkelson because we agreed on the current comparable players,” Boras said as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. “That is not something we were able to do with Skubal.”
From Boras’ perspective, Skubal belongs in the same financial tier as the very best pitchers in baseball, which explains why his camp filed at $32 million.
Detroit, led by president of baseball operations Scott Harris, operates as a strict “file-and-trial” team. Once numbers are exchanged, the Tigers typically shut down talks on one-year deals and prepare for arbitration. Boras, however, says that approach is a choice, not a rule.
“There are no deadlines for negotiating, other than when we go to the hearing and turn the case over to arbitrators,” Boras explained. “There’s no baseball rule that says you can’t negotiate. It’s the Tigers’ philosophy where they stop negotiations, but that’s their choice, not ours. We’re continuing to negotiate, and we’ll always do so in good faith – up until the hearing when the arbitrators decide.”
Is There Still a Path to a Deal Before the Hearing?
Even with the clock ticking, Boras insists Skubal’s camp is open to creative solutions that could avoid a winner-take-all arbitration ruling.
“We are open to negotiate,” Boras said. “There are no deadlines from Tarik Skubal’s camp.”
One possibility could be a short-term structure, such as a one-year contract with a player option, giving Skubal added security while preserving his long-term free-agency path and allowing Detroit to maintain its file-and-trial philosophy.
Whether the Tigers are willing to explore that kind of flexibility remains to be seen. For now, the organization is sticking to its process, while Boras is signaling that the door to a deal is still open — even as the arbitration hearing looms and the stakes continue to rise.
One Response
I’m tired of all the reports and stories. I lost faith in ownership and top management. So have thousands of other people.
Illitch has so much money. We were asked to wait it out. That was a long time ago. Ow we have a chance to make a move and no action?? This IS not acceptable. Look at how many other teams have spent a lot of money. Detroit IS NOT A SMALL MARKET. Detroit is not a NY or an LA market, but it’s far more than the spending going on. They spent $15 million on Cobb. Isn’t Skubal worth double of that lame duck?? There is no excuse for this. The fan is getting beat up again. DO SOMETHING