Tarik Skubal will hit free agency this offseason as baseball's top available pitcher after the Los Angeles Dodgers' NLCS elimination on Thursday night. The 29-year-old left-hander declined to discuss his future immediately after Game 4, saying only that "Today sucks, you know, and that's kind of where my head's at," via MLB.com.
Skubal made 26 starts across both teams in 2025, posting a 12-7 record with a 2.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 186 strikeouts in 158 ⅔ innings. His 4.6 WAR marked a decline from 6.7 and 6.4 in the previous two seasons, though he made five fewer starts. He underwent NanoScope surgery on his pitching elbow in April and returned by mid-June, missing starts between April 29 and June 13.
The Tigers traded Skubal to Los Angeles at the deadline for a package anchored by top prospect Zyhir Hope. Detroit made the move after sitting only 2 ½ games out of a playoff spot, prioritizing acquiring assets rather than risking losing him to free agency without compensation.
Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award in both 2024 and 2025. He has made the playoffs three consecutive years, posting a 2.13 ERA across eight playoff starts. This season's NLCS appearance with the Dodgers marked his deepest playoff run. The Tigers reached the ALDS in both 2024 and 2025 before elimination.
Contract uncertainty surrounds Skubal's free agency amid the expiring collective bargaining agreement. The ownership side is pushing toward a salary cap structure, which could delay his deal until after negotiations conclude between players and owners. Alternatively, a team may pursue an aggressive offer to grandfather his contract under the previous CBA framework before any new agreement takes effect. Pitcher contracts at his level typically command nine-figure ranges, but the timing and structure of a new labor deal may reshape the market.