The Detroit Tigers’ arbitration case against pitcher Tarik Skubal relied on comparing his salary demands to past deals of pitchers like David Price and Jacob deGrom. Price signed a $19.75 million contract with Detroit in 2015, while deGrom agreed to a $17 million salary for the 2019 season with the New York Mets. Both figures were significantly lower than the $32 million salary sought by Skubal and his agent Scott Boras, marking the highest arbitration award before free agency.
Scott Boras criticized the Tigers’ reliance on these past contracts during a recent interview on Foul Territory TV. He argued that the $17 million figure for Jacob deGrom was misleading as it was only a temporary salary before deGrom signed a far larger deal months later.
Boras Challenges Validity of deGrom Salary as Comparable Benchmark
Boras explained that the $17 million figure attributed to deGrom was not truly reflective of his earnings or performance:
“You can find comparability of Jacob deGrom in doing that. But how I interface this, I said: ‘You’re forgetting something. The $17 million that deGrom was paid was not his salary.’ Why? Because he never threw another pitch. 70 days later, deGrom had a new contract for $137.5 million with an average annual value of $27.5 million,”
Boras added,
“I go, ‘This settlement was a placeholder for a deal that they were working on.’ That wasn’t his true salary that he performed under. So when you look at $17 million, keep that in reference: it really was a placeholder for a future negotiation…”
This argument emphasized that deGrom’s 2019 salary was essentially a temporary figure, which Boras says should not be used to limit Skubal’s compensation in arbitration.
Advocating for Current Market Value Over Historical Comparisons
Boras also contended that arbitration-eligible players like Skubal should be evaluated against recent contracts that reflect the current market, rather than deals from nearly a decade ago like Price’s. He pointed out the disparity in how the employer and employee view these comparisons:
“The employee would say, ‘What? There are current players that are making current values,'”
Boras explained. He continued,
“Why would you ever choose the salary of somebody eight to ten years ago? And the employer says, ‘Because you’re so good, it’s the only one I can compare to.’ I said the employee would leave. He would leave if he were treated that way.”
However, Boras highlighted that, unlike other players, Skubal cannot leave due to the constraints of the arbitration process:
“But the difference here is that Tarik Skubal can’t leave. He can’t leave. And so that’s why he’s reliant on this process and this panel to justify that his performance is placed in what the bargaining parties agreed to, which is the current market.”
Recent High-Value Arbitration Awards Set New Precedents
Recent arbitration cases have seen notably high salaries, reflecting a rise in market value. Shohei Ohtani set a record with a $30 million deal in 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, which Juan Soto surpassed by $1 million in 2024 with the New York Mets. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. secured a $28.5 million contract, also just before free agency. Boras argued that it was fair for Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner, to seek comparable compensation in line with these recent figures.
Scott Boras Applauds Arbitration Process Following Skubal’s Hearing
Following the arbitration hearing, Boras expressed his approval of Major League Baseball’s arbitration procedures under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). He commended the panel for their understanding and application of the rules.
“I’m really pleased about is that the interpretation of the CBA was clearly understood. A panel of people who look at CBAs and contracts really know how this should have been followed,”
Boras told Foul Territory TV.
“I think we brought clarity to the game. As to the impact it’s going to have—that depends on a lot of factors going forward, having the standards, ability, and skills to articulate what went on here. But we will see. I certainly think it put a platform out for clarity. We have a better understanding of how the CBA is to be applied.”
Looking Ahead: Skubal’s Path to a Record-Breaking Free Agency
Boras now faces the challenge of negotiating Skubal’s free agent contract, with the young pitcher expected to approach unprecedented figures. Players like Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, who held $30 million-plus arbitration deals, later signed contracts exceeding $700 million. While such a figure might be ambitious, Skubal is projected to surpass Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million deal during next offseason’s free agency period, highlighting the rising stakes in pitcher valuations.
