The Los Angeles Dodgers received a positive outlook on the future of starting pitcher Tarik Skubal with the Detroit Tigers.
Recently, news emerged that the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner is aiming for a record $32 million in salary arbitration. Meanwhile, the Tigers responded with a $19 million offer, setting up a potential $13 million gap if the case reaches a hearing.
With Detroit paying $32 million to Skubal for the 2026 MLB season being a potential reality, former Miami Marlins executive David Samson is urging the Tigers to part ways with their ace before the new campaign starts in a couple of months.
“The Detroit Tigers have a teensy-tiny problem,” Samson said in a video posted on Jan. 13 from “Nothing Personal with David Samson.” “The problem is that losing this arbitration would give a $32 million number to one pitcher. They’ve got some revenue issues there. I’m not sure they can handle a $32 million pitcher… I don’t care that you’re Chris Ilitch. You’re not gonna hit the bid for Skubal in free agency. It’s just not going to happen.
“You could run it back, use him all year, wear him out 200-plus innings, and then let him go in free agency. The problem is it’s a $32 million risk for a team that doesn’t have that sort of flexibility, which is why I’ve been saying from the beginning that the smartest thing to do would be to trade Skubal. You will be seduced by other teams to bring in an ace like Skubal.”
Tigers Should Be Talking to Teams for a Tarik Skubal Trade
Moreover, Samson believes the Tigers should be working the phones to make a trade before they go to arbitration with Skubal, recognizing that doing so could cost them leverage in negotiations.
“The risk of the Tigers going to arbitration is that teams will know that they’ve got to trade them, and you may not get the overpay that you were going to get,“ Samson added. “I would be working on a trade right now prior to arbitration. And it’s really awesome when players get traded in the middle of an arbitration because the new team can either go to arbitration with the player or settle it and say it’s an exception.”
Dodgers Seen as Likeliest Spot for Tarik Skubal
This take from Samson would be ideal for a team like the Dodgers, who could be the top landing spot for Skubal. On Jan. 8, CBS Sports MLB writer Matt Snyder appeared on CBS Sports HQ and noted that if Detroit were to trade Skubal, the likeliest destination would be the Dodgers.
“I think [the Tigers should] shoot [their] shot with one year of Skubal and then say, ‘We’ll see you later after this year,‘” Snyder said. “I could totally be wrong on that. If he does go, I feel like the most likely destination is the Dodgers.
“I’ll also say, like you can see the Yankees jumping on there. You could see the Mets. You could see the Cubs. By no means would it be just the Dodgers, but I do think that if the Tigers are serious about trading him before the season starts, the most likely trading candidate would be the Dodgers.”
Dodgers Get Strong Tarik Skubal Outlook Amid Trade Rumors