Just as the Detroit Tigers absorbed one financial body blow, super-agent Scott Boras is winding up to deliver another. For the past couple of days, the Detroit Tigers have not been hearing any good news. First, it was their TV broadcasting and the losses they were going to take from that. Now it is from Tarik Skubal and Scott Boras.

Bob Nightengale reported that, “It is the MLB salary filing day, where teams and hundreds of salary arbitration-eligible players exchange salary figures for the upcoming 2026 season.”

The problem for the Detroit Tigers is that they have Tarik Skubal, who is also in the bracket.

Nightengale wrote, “Tarik Skubal will be the headliner of the salary exchanges… Skubal, who will be a free agent after the season, is projected to become the highest-paid arbitration-eligible pitcher in history.”

This winter, FanDuel Sports Network’s financial collapse has reopened television uncertainty for several teams, including Detroit. Main Street Sports Group missed rights payments, leaving the Tigers unsure about local revenue streams. That uncertainty matters because local television deals historically deliver tens of millions annually to clubs.

With spring training near, the Detroit Tigers face planning stress tied directly to unpredictable broadcast income this year.

Those concerns now overlap with Tarik Skubal’s arbitration case, represented by agent Scott Boras this offseason.

Skubal is entering arbitration after a second consecutive Cy Young season, unlike typical comparable pitchers in recent years. Reports indicate his filing could approach $20 million, far above previous first-year pitchers’. The prior record for first-time arbitration pitchers sat at $19 million with Framber Valdez.

Detroit has historically avoided arbitration fights, often settling early to control payroll volatility internally and long-term planning. This case differs because Skubal’s performance metrics and awards distort past standard arbitration templates. Boras is expected to press comparisons aggressively, leveraging Cy Young voting and workload data from 2024 to double Skubal’s salary. His $10.15 million salary could go up to $22.5 million.

That approach pushes Detroit toward a hearing outcome rather than a quiet settlement before camps open.

If unresolved, Tarik Skubal’s award would set a new arbitration salary benchmark for pitchers across baseball. That number would immediately add pressure to the Tigers’ budget, already clouded by TV instability. The timing matters because Detroit lacks clarity on FanDuel revenue entering the 2026 season planning.

Tarik Skubal’s arbitration filing turns budget planning into a public stress test for Tigers leadership. Together with the broadcast uncertainty, it creates overlapping financial strain that the Tigers must manage carefully.

Even with arbitration, the Tigers will still want to keep Tarik Skubal for 2026

Detroit is juggling chaos with FanDuel’s missed payments and Scott Boras’s latest demands, yet the Tigers aren’t flinching. Detroit appears set to keep Tarik Skubal, despite trade rumors circulating multiple big-market teams this offseason.

The lefty posted a 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts across 195.1 innings in 2025, proving his dominance on the mound. Teams like the Dodgers have inquired, but Detroit has repeatedly held firm, signaling they value him more than any immediate haul.

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League sources confirm Skubal is expected to open spring training with the Tigers, reinforcing the team’s intention to retain him.

Keeping Skubal matters because he anchors a rotation that faltered only when supporting arms struggled during 2025’s collapse. The Detroit Tigers scored two or fewer runs in five of eight postseason games, showing that elite pitching is their clearest advantage. Skubal’s presence ensures Detroit can stay competitive while rebuilding the offensive depth around him for a meaningful postseason run.

With a balanced roster including Riley Greene, Javy Báez, and Kerry Carpenter, he provides a foundation that other starters cannot replicate.

If Detroit keeps Skubal, half-hearted efforts won’t suffice; the team must upgrade significantly to challenge for a title. Adding impact hitters like Alex Bregman or Cody Bellinger could address the lineup’s postseason weaknesses. Scott Harris must act decisively because Skubal represents a generational pitching force whose contributions alone won’t carry the team.

This winter demands bold moves and real roster upgrades. Fans know Tarik Skubal will pitch like an ace, but runs must come from somewhere else. Scott Harris must decide quickly or risk letting one of baseball’s best arms waste potential.