Tigers Offered Cy Young Favorite Tarik Skubal Non-Competitive Extension

The Detroit Tigers have Tarik Skubal under team control for two more seasons but they reportedly already tried to extend his contract with an offer that wasn't up to par.
Skubal celebrates after an inning-ending double play.
Skubal celebrates after an inning-ending double play. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Detroit Tigers were baseball's best feel-good story this past season, largely in part due to their All-Star left-handed ace and likely Cy Young award winner, Tarik Skubal.

Detroit relied on Skubal throughout their improbable run to the postseason and during their playoff run, which was halted by the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. When Skubal wasn't pitching, the Tigers piecemealed nine innings together with a number of bullpen pitchers and fringe starters.

Skubal, 27, is one of baseball's best pitchers and the Tigers' franchise player. While he's under team control for two more seasons, Detroit already has sights on an extension for their lefty ace. According to a report from Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers have already tried to extend Skubal's contract in a non-competitive fashion.

He's expected to earn a long-term, lucrative contract, whether it's from the Tigers or another team once he's able to hit the open market as a free agent after the 2026 season.

Detroit has work to do this offseason to improve their roster and sustain a deeper playoff run in the near future. The Tigers need a right-handed bat and another strong starter this offseason. MLB national writer Mark Feinsand mentioned he expects Detroit to be pretty aggressive this offseason and target a number of top free agents including Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso and available starting pitchers.

But locking down Skubal for the future should still be priority one.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a breaking/trending news writer at Sports Illustrated. Blake has covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball since 2021 for numerous sites including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's degree in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.