Overview

• Detroit’s president of baseball operations said “Tarik is a Tiger” and refused to comment on trades, free agents or other teams’ players at the club’s post-elimination press conference.
• Skubal, 28, is under club control for one more season after signing a $10.15 million one-year deal to avoid arbitration and is projected to reach free agency after 2026.
• The left-hander reinforced his elite status in 2025 with a 13-6 record, a 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts and a 0.891 WHIP over 195 innings.
• Speculation about suitors has intensified, with the Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners frequently mentioned, and one prediction piece forecasting a Toronto push if he becomes available.
• Analysts note Detroit’s choice between an extension, a one-year run, or a trade this winter, with some projections suggesting Skubal could target a top-of-market deal potentially approaching record territory.