Tigers P Tarik Skubal awarded record $32M in arbitration

Skubal's $32 million salary shatters previous records for an arbitration-eligible player.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Detroit Tigers left-handed ace Tarik Skubal, the American League Cy Young Award winner the last two seasons, was awarded a $32 million salary in 2026 by an arbitration panel on Thursday, shattering the previous records. Skubal, 29, was offered $19 million by the Tigers, but far surpassed David Price's $19.75 million record in 2015 for a pitcher's arbitration salary.

Why it matters

Skubal's record-breaking arbitration award highlights the increasing value of top-tier pitching talent in Major League Baseball, as teams are willing to pay premium salaries to lock down elite arms. This deal could set a new precedent for future arbitration cases involving star pitchers.

The details

Represented by agent Scott Boras, Skubal cited a clause in the CBA that allows players with five years of service to compare their contracts to any player, not just contracts determined by arbitration. The three-person arbitration panel sided with Skubal, citing his 'special achievements' which include becoming the first AL pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez (1999-2000).

  • The arbitration hearing took place on Wednesday in Arizona.
  • Skubal's $32 million salary for 2026 was awarded on Thursday.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A 29-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, who has won the American League Cy Young Award the last two seasons.

Scott Boras

Tarik Skubal's agent, who represented him in the arbitration case.

David Price

A former MLB pitcher whose $19.75 million arbitration salary in 2015 was previously the record.

Juan Soto

An MLB player whose $31 million arbitration salary in 2024 was previously the highest for any arbitration-eligible player.

Pedro Martinez

A former MLB pitcher who was the last AL pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards before Tarik Skubal.

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What’s next

Skubal is slated to become a free agent after the 2026 season, and he'll likely command a salary exceeding the record $325 million deal for a starting pitcher that the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed last year.

The takeaway

Tarik Skubal's record-breaking $32 million arbitration award underscores the immense value of elite pitching talent in today's MLB landscape, and could set a new precedent for future contract negotiations involving star pitchers.