Trade discussions involving Tarik Skubal remain at a standstill due to unresolved salary negotiations and arbitration concerns, according to ongoing reports. As the Detroit Tigers approach a critical arbitration hearing, the outcome is expected to significantly influence the timing and feasibility of any trade involving the elite left-handed pitcher.
Skubal’s Salary Demands and Team Counteroffers Creating a Stalemate
Entering the 2026 season, Skubal stands as a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and one of the game’s most valuable pitchers. He has requested an unprecedented $32 million in salary through arbitration, while the Tigers’ offer is $19 million, resulting in the largest salary gap recorded in MLB arbitration history. This financial disparity is creating hesitation among potential trading partners and freezing tangible offers.
Teams Await Arbitration Resolution Before Committing to a Deal
MLB executives are reluctant to engage in trade talks until Skubal’s salary is formally determined, concerned about the financial uncertainties involved. As Mark Feinsand reported on MLB.com, a National League executive explained the strategic caution involved in waiting for arbitration results.
“I think a team would want him to get through the arbitration process and see how much the salary is before making a trade,”
a National League executive told Feinsand.
Challenges of Trading Before Arbitration Hearing Underlined by AL Executives
Officials in the American League also expressed reservations about completing a trade prior to the upcoming arbitration hearing. Beyond financial concerns, the optics and managerial challenges of acquiring a pitcher shortly before a salary hearing complicate negotiations.
“With the risk of $32 million a year, there could be some clubs that can’t afford him, although I would guess most teams in for about $20 million would find the space,”
an AL executive said.
“Trading him pre-hearing would be awkward, since the new club would go to a [hearing] with a guy they just acquired.”
Detroit’s Competitive Status Likely to Delay Any Trade Until Midseason
Despite the ongoing trade rumors, the Tigers remain competitive after consecutive postseason berths, suggesting that a swift trade is unlikely. Industry insiders point to the 2026 July MLB trade deadline as the most probable moment for Detroit to negotiate a deal. At that point, salary figures will have been finalized, risks reduced, and Detroit can maximize the return value should they choose to move Skubal.
