Austin Konenski
The Detroit Tigers are going all-in for the 2026 MLB season. After signing Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, the Tigers rotation, led by Tarik Skubal, is among the best in MLB. However, will Skubal remain in Detroit or enter MLB free agency after the 2026 season?
In a rare interview with The Athletic, Tigers owner Chris Ilitch was asked about the possibility of extending Skubal in his contract year. While there wasn’t a clear “yes” or “no,” based on the Detroit’s commitments during the offseason, the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner could return in 2027 and beyond.
“I would say Scott Harris is always looking to make smart baseball decisions,” Ilitch said to The Athletic. “Whether it’s acquiring players or investing in infrastructure. I hope it’s clear I want to support our team to make sure that we are a championship-caliber organization. So let’s let Scott evaluate and decide what he’d like to do, but I think I’m going to do everything I can to continue to support our team and make sure we’re a championship-type club. So let’s see how it all plays out.”
Skubal loves being in Detroit and the team rallies behind his dominance on the mound every five days. The 29-year-old pitcher is poised to make $400 million-plus in MLB free agency, but could a real pursuit from Detroit prompt him to say put? It seems to be on the shoulders of Tiger president of baseball operations Scott Harris.
Harris has been proactive during the the offseason, improving the pitching front with Valdez and Verlander. Now, he is being tasked with navigating negotiations with one of the best left-handed pitchers in MLB history. Skubal is meant to be a Tiger, and it’s up to Harris to solidify his future in Detroit.
Read More: Detroit Tigers Address Tarik Skubal Visit Amid Extension Speculation
