Skubal Faces $250–300M Extension Gap

Tarik Skubal has emerged as one of MLB’s elite pitchers and is widely expected to win a second straight AL Cy Young as he enters 2026 — the final year of team control — setting up a high‑stakes offseason for the Detroit Tigers. Reports say the sides remain roughly $250–300 million apart after Skubal rejected a four‑year offer last offseason worth under $100 million, and his representation by Scott Boras makes a pre‑free‑agency mega‑extension unlikely. That financial gap leaves Detroit three options this winter: pay an unprecedented sum to keep him, trade him now to maximize return rather than lose him in free agency, or keep him and try to build a championship roster around him. The New York Mets, Yankees and other big‑market clubs are viewed as leading suitors, and the Mets are reportedly considering cheaper alternatives such as Freddy Peralta if Skubal proves unattainable. Analysts warn that acquiring or signing a Boras client risks a one‑year rental if no long‑term deal is reached, and commentators note Detroit also needs to add a true No. 2 starter (Michael King among suggested fits) if it hopes to retain Skubal and contend.