Overview
- Detroit filed $19 million and Skubal filed $32 million for 2026, creating a $13 million spread that is the largest on record for a pitcher.
- An arbitration panel in late January or early February will select one of the two figures with no midpoint settlement available at the hearing.
- Boras is pushing to use current top-end comps allowed for players with five-plus years of service, while the Tigers leaned on the 2015 David Price benchmark and halted one-year talks after filing.
- A potential workaround discussed publicly is a short contract that includes a player option, though no agreement has been reached.
- Payroll analysis shows Detroit’s 2026 outlay is already up roughly $16 million year over year and could climb about $29 million if Skubal wins, as league insiders also report increased trade preparation around the ace.