There is a new record award in Major League Baseball arbitration.<\/p>\n
Back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal<\/a> won his case against the Detroit Tigers<\/a> and is set to earn $32 million in 2026. The award is $13 million more than the number the Tigers argued.<\/p>\n BREAKING: Two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case and will make $32 million this year, sources tell ESPN. Skubal\u2019s bet to go for the largest salary ever in the arbitration system paid off, as he\u2019ll make $13M more than Tigers argued.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A native of Hayward, CA, Skubal made 31 starts in 2025. He was 13-6 with a 2.21 earned run average and 0.891 WHIP, both American League-leading numbers, in 195.1 innings of work. He struck out 241 batters and walked just 33. His 6.5 WAR was also tops among AL pitchers.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old Skubal heads into his seventh big league season and will be a free agent next November.<\/p>\n Skubal will not be the highest-paid member of the Tigers\u2019 rotation next season. The team reportedly agreed to a three-year, $115 million deal with free-agent lefty Framber Valdez<\/a> late on Wednesday.<\/p>\n