Last week, Detroit Tigers ace left-hander Tarik Skubal was voted American League Cy Young Award winner for the second year in a row, solidifying his status as one of baseball’s most elite pitchers. But with one year remaining before he is set to hit free agency, Skubal has become one of the most frequent names in the offseason rumor mill.
Just on Thursday morning, former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden published a lengthy piece speculating on five possible trade packages that, he wrote, could persuade the Tigers to part with Skubal. And his was only the latest in a long parade of hypothetical trades moving Skubal out of Detroit.
At the same time, rumors about the record sums Skubal would allegedly command as a free agent have also been common, with an ESPN.com report Thursday saying that if the 29-year-old becomes a free agent after next season, “Skubal has a chance of surpassing Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s record $325 million contract, and he could even become baseball’s first $400 million pitcher.”
But at least in public, Skubal brushes off the rumors. Appearing on the Foul Territory podcast Thursday, Skubal told former major league catcher Erik Kratz that the stories about his contract situation and potential trades are made up “out of nothing.”
“Even contract stuff, I don’t really know where they come up with these numbers or that narrative,” Skubal said in the podcast interview, adding that his practice is ”don’t look into any of the stuff that you see. Definitely don’t comment. Don’t take to social media and say anything.”
Despite his current reluctance to discuss his contract situation, in the past he has been somewhat more open to talking about the topic.
In a July podcast interview, Skubal was asked about a potential free-agent contract of $425 million over 10 years.
“That sounds good,” Skubal replied, as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. Skubal then, with tongue-in-cheek, told the podcast hosts that they should negotiate his contract for him.
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In the Foul Territory interview, Skubal admitted that the ongoing media speculation has affected his family.
“I think my wife gets it. I think that she’s pretty good about it. I think it’s probably, like, my mom and my dad,” he said, adding that his parents frequently ask him where he’ll be next year.
“It’s like, I’m a Tiger. That’s kind of how you guys will find out. At the same time I find out if I’m getting actually traded,” Skubal said that he has told his parents.
He also denied that he desired a trade, saying, “It’s not like I want to be traded, so why am I in these conversations?”
Skubal must either go through the arbitration process with the Tigers one last time, or sign a contract with the team to avoid arbitration before the 2026 season. According to an estimate by MLB Trade Rumors, Skubal can expect a salary of $17.8 million next year, if he were to enter arbitration.
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