The Tigers and MLB picked a fight with Tarik Skubal. Now they’re paying for it
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Detroit Tigers and MLB's Labor Relations Department offered pitcher Tarik Skubal a minimal raise in arbitration, significantly less than his requested $32 million, aiming to avoid setting a new precedent.
- The arbitration panel ruled in Skubal’s favor, awarding him a record $32 million salary, surpassing previous marks and highlighting disparities between pitcher and hitter salary growth in arbitration.
- Skubal leveraged his five-plus years of service and two Cy Young awards to compare himself to top free agents, strengthening his case without needing to present his awards physically.
- The Tigers' low initial offer and MLB’s data-driven arbitration approach, which downplays player stature, contributed to their loss, with critics suggesting a more reasonable offer might have prevented the record-setting outcome.
