Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal has been ruled out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow. While this is a major blow to the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, it appears it won’t get in the way of a record-setting contract.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel spoke with the league’s agents, executives and scouts, who estimated that Skubal would receive a contract worth approximately $357 million over seven years.
Typically, Skubal’s surgery occurs with a recovery timeline of two to three months. This would put the All-Star pitcher on track to return in late July, right after the MLB All-Star break.
However, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, there is “optimism in the Tigers clubhouse” that Skubal will be able to return to the mound in June. In a best-case scenario, some even think the reigning Cy Young Award winner could be a part of Detroit’s rotation by early June.
Examining Tarik Skubal’s Future Earning Power
Prior to the 2026 MLB season, Skubal had made 31 starts in consecutive years with over 190 innings pitched. He had demonstrated a track record of being a workhorse starter and was poised to do so again in 2026 before experiencing some pain in his pitching elbow.
Skubal’s success on the mound guarantees he will become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history. Los Angeles Dodgers starter pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has the most lucrative contract among pitchers at $325 million over 12 years, while Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler has the highest average annual salary among pitchers ($42 million).
Based on Skubal’s projected contracts, he will break both records. He would be the first pitcher in MLB history to have a contract AAV of over $50 million and the total value of the contract (over $350 million) would easily surpass the Yamamoto contract covering even fewer years.
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