Tarik Skubal will become the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball history when he signs a new contract this winter, surpassing the current record set by the Los Angeles Dodgers' $325 million deal with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Detroit Tigers left-hander, who won consecutive AL Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025, turned 30 last week and is now a free agent after being traded to the Dodgers this summer.
Skubal’s back-to-back Cy Young wins and his age position him to command a contract exceeding Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million pact, which was the largest for any pitcher at the time of signing. Yamamoto’s deal eclipsed Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees, signed before the 2020 season. Cole’s agreement itself had surpassed Stephen Strasburg’s $245 million deal with the Washington Nationals that briefly held the record.
The Dodgers acquired Skubal in July from the Tigers, who anticipated they could not afford to extend their homegrown lefty after his dominant seasons. Skubal’s arrival in Los Angeles came amid speculation about his winter market, and his recent awards have only increased his value.
Left-handers have not traditionally topped pitching contracts. The largest deal for a lefty pitcher currently belongs to Max Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees after the 2024 season. It seems almost certain that Skubal will set a new high bar for left-handers as well.
Looking at the history of the biggest contracts for pitchers, Yamamoto’s $325 million deal leads, followed closely by Cole’s $324 million. Strasburg’s two contracts combined to hold the record at different points, with his initial $245 million deal and a later $175 million extension. Other notable contracts include David Price’s $217 million seven-year deal with Boston and Clayton Kershaw’s seven-year, $215 million extension with the Dodgers.
Among more recent high-value contracts, Corbin Burnes signed for $210 million over six years with the Arizona Diamondbacks starting in 2025, while Dylan Cease agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays beginning in 2026. Max Scherzer’s seven-year, $210 million contract with the Nationals also ranks among the top.
Skubal’s upcoming contract is expected to surpass these figures, setting a new standard for pitcher salaries in the sport. At 30, he combines prime age with proven dominance, factors that should push his market value above the current benchmarks.
His potential deal will also outstrip those of other recent free-agent pitchers like Jacob DeGrom, who signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2023, and Blake Snell, who agreed to $182 million over five years with the Dodgers starting in 2025.
The Tigers’ decision to trade Skubal midseason was influenced by their assessment of the market and their financial outlook. The Dodgers added him as part of their strategy to bolster their rotation for a postseason run, but the offseason will reveal just how much Skubal’s performances translate into a record-breaking contract.
Skubal’s back-to-back Cy Young awards and his age profile set him apart from other pitchers in this free-agent class. The market is watching closely as he prepares to negotiate what is likely to become the richest pitching contract in MLB history.
According to Yahoo Sports.
