Tigers, Tarik Skubal Reportedly Not Aligned On Contract Talks
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal figures to be a prominent talking point this MLB offseason. Skubal becomes a free agent next offseason, which has led some people (The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal included) to argue that Detroit should consider trading Skubal this winter.
New intel on Skubal from The New York Post’s Jon Heyman didn’t do anything to diffuse the rumors surrounding Detroit’s dominant lefty.
Heyman indicated that there is a gargantuan gap in contract negotiations between Skubal and the Tigers. This report is music to the ears of other teams interested in Skubal, of course.
Then again, whoever ends up going after Skubal, whether it is the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, or another one of MLB’s well-endowed franchises, that team should be prepared to pay a historic amount to Skubal.
It’s not outlandish to envision Skubal landing the biggest deal for a starting pitcher in the history of the sport.
Skubal is a little over a month away from his 29th birthday. He tallied a record of 13-6 with an ERA of 2.21 and 241 strikeouts in 31 appearances this season for Detroit. He’s widely expected to bring home his second consecutive Cy Young Award, although Boston’s Garrett Crochet is also in the running.