The Tigers and Tarik Skubal appear to be drifting apart. After a report last week in the New York Post that the two sides are "close to $250 million" apart in contract negotiations, a follow-up report revealed the Tigers' shockingly low offer to Skubal a year ago: Less than $80 million over four years.
Or, less than half of what the Red Sox paid Garrett Crochet at the outset of this season: $170 million over six years. Crochet, 25 at the time, was coming off his first All-Star season after being traded by the White Sox and was slated to hit free agency in 2026.
Skubal, 28, was the reigning American League Pitching Triple Crown winner when the Tigers made their offer and is now in line to win his second straight AL Cy Young award.
Skubal is under team control through next season after which he'll be an unrestricted free agent. He figures to command at least $400 million, up to $500 million on the open market.
At this rate, it's highly unlikely the Tigers will be the team to give it to him.
They could either trade him this winter for a stockpile of assets before he departs or run it back next season and take another run at the World Series with the best pitcher in baseball.