Over the past two years, Tarik Skubal has clearly established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in the majors. The Tigers' best pitcher, expected to win his second Cy Young Trophy in two years, has been a major part of his club's comeback.
And when you look at his performances in the current series, you will see how dominant he is.
Tarik Skubal in the postseason
ALDS GAME 5 (ND): 6 IP, 13K, 1 available
ALDS Game 2: (ND): 7 IP, 9K, 2 ER
Game ALWC 1: (W): 7.2 IP, 14K, 1 ER– Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) October 11, 2025
However, Skubal is now in a special position. In 2026, the starter will have his final year before reaching full autonomy… meaning the Tigers, who don't typically pay big money to sign their players, will have a big decision to make.
The club will have to decide whether it wants to keep Skubal in 2026… or trade him this summer in order not to lose him on the autonomy market in a year.
The Tigers face an impossible choice with Tarik Skubal, just as the Brewers did when they traded Corbin Burns to Baltimore in 2024. Skubal will become a free agent next fall. Should the Tigers:
– Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 11, 2025
It's not much different from Corbin Burns in Milwaukee two years ago. The Brewers then knew they couldn't pay him… so they traded Burns to Baltimore instead of keeping him for another year.
And the club made a similar decision last year, this time with forward Devin Williams. All this despite the club's desire to remain competitive (which worked).
We know that Skubal, thanks to his track record, will be able to break the bank in a year. And considering that Scott Boras is his agent, the chances of him agreeing to a contract extension before he hits the market are very, very low.
So the Tigers will have to make a decision… and you really have to wonder if this is the last time Skubal has worn a team uniform. And if so, then his name will be very, very desirable on the trading market.
This content was created using artificial intelligence.
