Tigers' Tarik Skubal gets $40 million projection amid highly anticipated free agency

The Detroit Tigers made a bold decision this past offseason, deciding to go all-in for the 2026 season with signings of Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Kenley Jansen, and others, with Tarik Skubal's last year on the horizon.

While they aren't completely ruining their chance to contend beyond 2026, this season is a very important year for the Tigers. Skubal will be a free agent next offseason in what is one of the most highly-anticipated free agencies of recent MLB history.

For Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter, the Tigers' back-to-back Cy Young winner is set to land a huge deal next winter, with Reuter projecting a $40 million per-year deal for the Tigers lefty ace.

Tigers' Tarik Skubal gets $40M free agent projection

"With two years under his belt as arguably the best pitcher in baseball and another strong start this season," Reuter writes, "Skubal could be headed for a $40 million AAV as the best pitcher to hit the open market since Gerrit Cole."

Skubal is sure to land a massive deal, barring an injury or a disastrous 2026 season. So, an AAV of $40 million, while it might seem ridiculous for a pitcher, is not out of the question at all.

He's not regressing and isn't going to be too old either. He'll be 30 years old as a free agent, and teams will surely be lining up out the door to try and convince him to come to their team.

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

Who wouldn't want to add a two-time Cy Young award-winner, let alone one who won back-to-back Cy Youngs in two of the three most recent MLB seasons? And if he puts up a third Cy Young in 2026? Skubal could be looking at a deal that shatters record books.

This season, he has a 2.55 ERA through three starts, though he's already been docked two losses thanks to poor run support.

Skubal is going to land a massive contract next offseason, and the Tigers will either find a way to bring him back or, what seems the most likely outcome at this point, they'll see him walk for a massive deal worth north of $40 million, or potentially $400 million total.

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