5 arbitration raises that will greatly affect Tigers' 2026 payroll

While one of the benefits of the Detroit Tigers' young roster is the artificial suppression of cost by virtue of most of the club's foundational players still being under team control, the stellar performances from many of the group are about to make the unit a whole lot more expensive as they enter or proceed through the arbitration process.

Detroit would be wise to get ahead of the curve with extensions for at least some of these players. That won't save them a ton, but at least it will give them some clarity in how much they will cost over the next few years without being subject to the whims of the arbitrator.

As it stands now, these five Tigers players are set to receive significant raises in arbitration, making Detroit's 2026 payroll look a whole heck of a lot more expensive.

5 Tigers players in like to get big arbitration raises for 2026

Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal

It sure sounds like the Tigers are preparing for life after Tarik Skubal, given Scott Harris's recent comments and the abundantly obvious fact that, barring injury, Skubal will get paid very handsomely when he hits free agency after next season.

In the meantime, while he'll still be a relative bargain in arbitration, he will get significantly more expensive than his 2025 price tag of $10.15 million. A good comp for Skubal is Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez, who just took home $18 million in what is his walk year this season. Valdez is one of the top lefty starters in baseball, whereas Skubal is the top lefty starter in the game. A second straight Cy Young trophy, which is within Skubal's grasp, should be enough for him to blow past Valdez's lofty mark.

First baseman Spencer Torkelson

Spencer Torkelson might get the biggest boost of any player on this list, given where he is in his team-control life cycle. 2025 is his final pre-arb year, and while he entered the season as an afterthought, his breakout campaign couldn't have come at a better time as far as his future earnings are concerned.

The arbitration process favors guys who can hit the long ball, with many flawed but powerful players making big bucks in the process over the years. Torkelson fits that bill, at least to some degree. The good news for Detroit is that while Torkelson's powerful, he's not at the level of other sluggers who broke the arbitration molds. Furthermore, with this being just his first year in arbitration, they'll get some relief as there will still be room for his salary to grow in future years.

Bottom line, however, is that Torkelson's only making $786K this season. That number in 2026 will be much, much higher.

Starting pitcher Casey Mize

Much like Torkelson, Mize looked to be a bust of a first overall pick as he struggled to stay healthy and effective over the first four years of his big league career. Finally, in 2025, he has turned the corner and put himself in line for a big raise in the process.

After making just $2.34 million this season, Mize will have an All-Star selection on his resume now in his final go-around through arbitration, furthering his case for a healthy raise. Don't expect him to settle easily either. Past squabbles between Mize and the club, including over the paltry sum of $25,000 ahead of the 2024 season, likely foreshadow the right-hander pushing his luck with the arbitrator and trying to squeeze every last penny out of the Tigers.

Reliever Will Vest

Barring any meltdowns in the stretch run, Will Vest is poised to finish 2025 with a sub-3 ERA for the third straight season. That consistency should give him the leverage necessary to secure a nice raise in the offseason.

While Vest has shared closer duties, first with Tommy Kahnle and now with deadline addition Kyle Finnegan, he has racked up more saves than ever before and stands the chance to pick up a few more before the season comes to a close. Old school stats like that matter to the arbitrators, so his newfound ability to shut the door in the ninth will further help his case.

Super utilityman Zach McKinstry

While players like Torkelson and Mize have completed 180s on their career trajectories this year, perhaps no Tiger has had as big of a turnaround as Zach McKinstry. Once one of the most hated players on the roster, McKinstry garnered a ton of fan support in his successful All-Star bid, truly coming out of nowhere to become an indispensable member of the Tigers' roster.

With a 120 wRC+ on the year, shattering his previous career best of 81, the former 33rd-round pick will get a nice salary bump from the $1.65 million he's earning this season. As a result, the Tigers will have to hope he keeps outperforming his batted ball profile in 2026 and beyond.