Skubal’s Big Win Overshadowed by Tigers’ Offer
The Detroit Tigers’ offseason is officially underway, and if the first few notes are any indication, fans might want to buckle up. It’s a classic good news, bad news situation going on here. On one hand, you have the undeniable, brilliant ace of the staff getting the recognition he deserves. On the other hand, you have a report so puzzling it makes you question the entire direction of the franchise.
Let’s start with the good stuff first, because we all witnessed how good Skubal was this year.
Another Trophy for the Mantle
For the second year in a row, Tarik Skubal has been named the American League’s Outstanding Pitcher by his peers in the MLB Players Association. Let that sink in. This isn’t just some media award; this is the guys he’s facing, the best hitters in the world, tipping their caps and saying, “That guy is the best.”
And they’re not wrong. After securing the AL Cy Young award in 2024, Skubal followed it up with an equally impressive (except for the win total) 2025 campaign, posting a dazzling 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts over 195.1 innings. He’s not just an ace; he’s the ace, and routinely, his name is tossed around among the best to have ever stepped on the mound in my lifetime…Kershaw, Martinez, and even Verlander. This is the kind of player you build a franchise around, the bedrock of a championship contender.
Which, of course, brings us to the part of the story that’s utterly confusing to me…even if I’m not sure it’s the right move to sign him.
The Head-Scratching Contract Offer
Just as the praise for Skubal’s award was making the rounds, a bombshell report dropped, and it has me scratching my head. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Tigers reportedly offered Skubal a contract extension last year that was “shockingly low.”
The reported terms? Less than $80 million over four years.
Let’s be clear: offering a reigning Cy Young winner, a pitcher in the prime of his career, a deal that averages less than $20 million a year is not a serious attempt to keep him. It feels less like a negotiation and more like an insult. We see what pitchers are offered nowadays: salaries north of $30 million, the going rate for that level of talent. While the offer was made before this most recent dominant season, it followed a Cy Young campaign, making the figure ludicrous at best.
This is where the frustration for fans like us really sets in. The front office talks about building a sustainable winner, about competing for championships. But how can that be the goal when your opener to the best pitcher in the American League is a lowball offer that risks alienating him completely? It creates a disconnect between the team’s words and its actions, leaving everyone to wonder what the actual plan is. Skubal is under team control for one more season before he can hit the open market, and this news does little to inspire confidence that a long-term deal is on the horizon.
Honestly, I’m not even sure the Tigers should sign Skubal long-term. My guess is his agent, Scott Boras, will push him to test the open market — he’s done it to Detroit before, and he’ll probably do it again. Unless Skubal has some deep loyalty to the Tigers, why wouldn’t he see what’s out there? It’s the smart move. And here’s the kicker — Boras has played this game with Detroit before— does Max Scherzer or J.D. Martinez ring a bell with anyone? That’s why the front office has to consider at least what a blockbuster trade might look like — something that brings back real value, not just prospects, but players who can make an impact right now.
Hinch’s View and the Path Forward
So, where do the Tigers go from here? Manager A.J. Hinch, who quietly received a long-term extension of his own during the 2025 season, has spoken about the team’s need to assess every level of the organization heading into 2026. There’s a clear desire to build on the back-to-back playoff appearances, even if they ended in heartbreaking ALDS exits.
But building a roster and maintaining a winning culture are two different things. You can’t plan for a deep playoff run while simultaneously sending a message to your superstar that he isn’t valued at a superstar level. The cognitive dissonance is staggering.
While the big story remains the Skubal situation, the team is making other moves on the margins. The Tigers recently re-signed minor league pitcher Troy Watson to a deal for the 2026 season. Watson, a 28-year-old righty, put up solid numbers in Double-A and Triple-A last year and provides some valuable organizational depth. It’s a small, sensible move that every healthy franchise makes.
Monir league news aside, the real story is how the Tigers and Skubal navigate these murky waters in the future. The offseason has just begun, and there is certainly time for the front office to rectify the situation with a competitive, market-value offer. Does Harris have the backing of Chris Ilitch to make a serious bid for Skubal? Hmm…
For a fanbase that’s spent years clinging to hope for a real contender, this start to the Tigers’ offseason feels uneasy. Detroit finally has a true ace in Tarik Skubal — the kind of player every franchise dreams about building around. Now comes the moment of truth. The Tigers have to decide if they’re ready to treat him like the cornerstone he is. Whatever they do next will reveal a lot more than just their payroll priorities — it’ll show whether this organization is truly serious about winning again.
