What Tarik Skubal's elbow surgery means for Tigers contract, free agency

What Tarik Skubal's elbow surgery means for Tigers contract, free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Long before Tarik Skubal has even hit the open market, his free agency has been a major talking point in MLB.

As Skubal has ascended to become a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and the most dominant left-handed pitcher in baseball, his looming 2026 free agency has been closely watched. Not only has he not signed an extension with the Detroit Tigers , but for years, there has been a growing belief that he could surpass Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million deal for the largest pitcher contract ever. After a high-profile arbitration case with the Tigers this past offseason, 2026 officially became a contract year for Skubal.

But Monday’s news that he could miss multiple months with loose bodies in his throwing elbow could have major financial implications. Here’s how Skubal’s injury could wind up affecting his free agency. SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule What Tarik Skubal's elbow surgery means for contract, free agency One way or another, Skubal is expected to get a whole lot of money in the 2026 offseason.

He's cemented himself as a true ace, lifting the Tigers in both the regular season and postseason as a virtual guarantee to shut down an opposing lineup every time he steps on the mound. Skubal has heavily been expected to land a $400 million-plus offer from some team, whether Detroit or elsewhere, next offseason, which would make him the first $400 million pitcher ever. He's expected to pursue that $400 million mark as a free agent, per ESPN.