In a notable salary arbitration proceeding on Wednesday in Scottsdale, Arizona, Tarik Skubal, the distinguished left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and a two-time American League Cy Young Award recipient, has made a landmark request for $32 million for the upcoming season. The Tigers have responded with a counteroffer of $19 million. The case is being evaluated by an arbitration panel consisting of Jeanne Charles, Walt De Treux, and Allen Ponak, with their decision anticipated on Thursday.
This hearing is poised to set a new precedent in Major League Baseball arbitration salary figures. Previously, the highest salary awarded through arbitration was to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Toronto Blue Jays' first baseman, who received $19.9 million for the 2024 season in a case decided by a panel that included Charles, De Treux, and Scott Buchheit. While Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies made a record-high $30 million arbitration request in 2019, he ultimately avoided arbitration by negotiating an eight-year contract worth $260 million prior to a hearing. Among one-year arbitration-eligible contracts, Juan Soto's $31 million deal with the New York Yankees in 2024 stands as the largest. For pitchers, the highest negotiated one-year arbitration salary remains David Price's $19.75 million agreement with Detroit in 2015.
Skubal, aged 29 and a two-time All-Star, concluded the previous season with an impressively low 2.21 earned run average (ERA), which was the best in the American League, across 31 starts. He secured a record of 13 wins and 6 losses, accumulated 241 strikeouts, and allowed just 33 walks in 195 and one-third innings pitched, all while earning $10.5 million in salary. His walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) figure of 0.891 led qualified pitchers league-wide. Following the conclusion of this season, Skubal will be eligible for free agency.
So far in this arbitration cycle, players have succeeded in all rulings announced. For example, right-handed pitcher Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million, surpassing the Baltimore Orioles’ proposed $2.875 million. Similarly, catcher Yainer Diaz won an arbitration settlement of $4.5 million, exceeding the Houston Astros’ $3 million offer.
Meanwhile, three other arbitration hearings have been conducted, though decisions were withheld to avoid impacting subsequent cases. These include Toronto left-hander Eric Lauer demanding $5.75 million compared to a $4.4 million offer, Atlanta left-hander Dylan Lee requesting $2.2 million versus $2 million proposed, and Tampa Bay right-hander Edwin Uceta seeking $1.525 million against an offer of $1.2 million.
Seven remaining arbitration hearings are scheduled through February 13. Players involved include Baltimore left-hander Keegan Akin requesting $3.375 million against a $2.975 million offer, Cincinnati right-hander Graham Ashcraft seeking $1.75 million versus $1.25 million, Kansas City left-hander Kris Bubic asking $6.15 million with a $5.15 million offer on the table, Milwaukee catcher Willson Contreras requesting $9.9 million against $8.55 million, Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers asking $2.925 million compared to $2.625 million, Miami right-hander Calvin Faucher requesting $2.05 million against $1.8 million, and Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson demanding $6.8 million in contrast to $6.55 million.