Despite a lopsided 10-1 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night, the outlook remains bright for the Detroit Tigers. With a 44-25 record, they hold the best mark in the American League and boast the largest division lead—seven games ahead of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
At this pace, a postseason berth feels all but guaranteed, though the Tigers are likely aiming to build sustained success beyond just this season.
The first priority is securing their core players for the future. Although the Tigers signed infielder Colt Keith to a long-term deal this past offseason, one major piece remains unresolved. On Wednesday, that player made it clear he won’t accept a hometown discount to remain in Detroit—setting the stage for a major storyline to unfold in the months ahead.
Tarik Skubal Names Asking Price amid Contract Talks with Tigers
The Tigers are reportedly working to secure a new contract for ace Tarik Skubal—and it’s easy to see why. Skubal captured the American League Cy Young Award and Triple Crown last season, finishing 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts. He’s followed that up with an even stronger 2025 campaign so far, posting a 6-2 record, 2.16 ERA, and an impressive 105 strikeouts to just seven walks over his first 13 starts.
Contract talks are underway, and Skubal recently addressed the situation on the Pardon My Take podcast. When asked whether a 10-year, $420 million deal would keep him in Detroit, Skubal responded, “That sounds good,” per Christian Romo of the Detroit Free Press. Though much of the conversation included light-hearted banter about hypothetical free-agent riches, the message was clear: Skubal isn’t planning to take a hometown discount.
While he’s under team control through the 2026 season, Tigers fans are already anticipating a potential deal that could eclipse Miguel Cabrera’s franchise-record eight-year, $248 million contract from 2014. The starting pitching market has surged recently—most notably when Max Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees—but Skubal’s resume suggests he could command significantly more. Still, the Tigers have reason to be cautious. Skubal underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and had flexor tendon surgery in 2022. And while he’s emerged as one of the game’s elite pitchers, he’ll turn 29 in November—an age where the durability of starting pitchers can quickly become a concern. Case in point: Corbin Burnes, who signed a six-year, $210 million deal last winter, is now headed for Tommy John surgery.
Although Skubal’s focus remains on helping Detroit contend deep into October, his next contract looms large and will continue to be a major storyline until a deal is finalized.
