Tarik Skubal to Sign Biggest Pitching Free Agent Contract Ever: MLB Insider


 Could the Detroit Tigers possibly consider trading the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal? That's the question that was pondered by MLB Insider Jon Heyman, and while he doubted it, he was sure to point out that Skubal can become an unrestricted free agent in a year's time. 

Does that mean that the Tigers will try to head him off at the pass and get a huge trade package in return? Again, while Heyman doesn't rule it out, he isn't so sure, but he makes one thing perfectly clear:

With Scott Boras as his agent, Skubal will indeed make it to free agency, rather than signing any extension with Detroit. 

He plays it out and he becomes the biggest earning pitcher ever. That's the most likely (scenario)... If they want to give him $400 million before he becomes a free agent, okay... But that's unlikely.

Moreover, even if Boras wasn't his agent, Skubal could be taking a lesson from Garrett Crochet, the sensational young Boston Red Sox ace, who signed ahead of the 2025 season for six years, $170 million. If he had waited until after his Cy Young-worthy season, that price tag could likely have doubled.

Skubal—who is about to become a two-time Cy Young Award winner when the announcement is made next month—is projected to land a $400 million contract in free agency. Heyman noted that the Tigers have a $250 million gap, considering the lowball offer they made him one year ago.

Detroit was reported to have offered Skubal less than $100 million on a four-year deal. Could the Skubal camp (i.e. Boras) take that as an insult and make it extra difficult for them to sign him? That remains to be seen.

Skubal finished the '25 season with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA across 195⅓ innings with a major league best 0.89 WHIP and a spectacular 241:33 strikeout to walk ratio. His 1.5 walks per nine was the lowest of any qualifying starter in baseball. He struck out over 11 batters per nine innings. 

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