With Tarik Skubal throwing like a Cy Young candidate once more, the topic of a long-term deal has understandably come up again. However, Tigers president Scott Harris’ reaction to a recent question regarding locking up Detroit’s ace was… less than conclusive. While praising Skubal on Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman’s podcast, The Show, Harris refrained from committing to anything. Interpretation? Tigers supporters might need to be patient — again.
Skubal Is On Fire — Again
Let’s be clear: Tarik Skubal is dealing.
Over his last six starts (dating back to April 8 vs. the Yankees):
- 37 innings pitched
- 50 strikeouts
- 1 walk
- 4 earned runs
- 0.97 ERA
Controlling the zone, limiting damage, and making hitters look lost are all things you would expect from an ace. Do you want to know how much it is worth in the current market? A lot.
What Did Scott Harris Actually Say?
Harris was asked directly about the prospect of expanding Skubal throughout the show. His response?
“My hope is that we have press conferences where we’re talking at length about these things, but I think it’s a little premature and probably a little unfair to talk about it publicly,” Harris said as quoted by the Detroit Free Press.
In other words: not now, maybe later.
The subject of money then arose. Sherman questioned if the Tigers even had the funds to pay Skubal, pointing to the disparity in salary between Skubal and Colt Keith’s team-friendly contract.
Harris sidestepped again:
“We can’t just decide we’re going to sign him. It takes two parties… and a willingness on both sides to actually do it.”
Technically, that is accurate. To be honest, though, Detroit will need to open the pocketbook if they hope to retain its ace.
Reading Between the Lines
Harris didn’t shut the door all the way, to be fair. He actually concluded by saying this:
“If we can find a way to keep him, we’re going to try to find a way to keep him.”
That’s a great gesture, but fans have heard similar sentiments before, and not just in Detroit. If Skubal keeps throwing like this, his price tag may start with a 2… and have eight zeros behind it. The market for top starters isn’t kind.
Key Takeaways
- Tarik Skubal is dominating, with a 0.97 ERA over his last six starts.
- Scott Harris was non-committal when asked about a potential extension.
- Harris said it’s “premature” to talk publicly, and emphasized it “takes two parties.”
- The Tigers are likely going to have to pay big if they want to keep their ace long-term.
Bottom Line
The Tigers haven’t produced a better pitcher in years than Tarik Skubal, and in 2025, he’s living up to the hype.
But it’s time to quit skirting the issue if the front office is sincere about creating a winner. Not only does locking up your ace steady the rotation, but it also communicates the message, “This is where we’re headed.” And we’re being led there by this person.
They risk having that check cut by another squad if they wait too long.
