Tarik Skubal reveals status of Tigers contract extension offer and fans won't like it

For months, Detroit Tigers fans have been preparing themselves for the possibility that Tarik Skubal leaves Detroit in free agency. At this point, it looks like more of an eventuality. Detroit's last-minute spending spree this offseason was encouraging, but are they really prepared or willing to give Skubal the $400 million he's expected to earn? All signs point to 'no.'

Owner Chris Ilitch refused to give a straight answer when asked about the possibility of extending or re-signing Skubal. Instead, he put the responsibility on Scott Harris, as if he were not the one who had the final say on the team's spending.

The last we've heard about an extension offer to Skubal was a four-year, below-$80 million deal ahead of his first Cy Young win. The timing of that offer matters, but it's still laughable considering all that he's done since.

Did anyone try to come back to the table over this past offseason, though? Skubal says there weren't — and won't be. He told Bob Nightengale, "There is no offer, and there won't be an offer until the end of the season. [...] My focus is on playing baseball and winning this year. I'll deal with the contract stuff at the end of the year, and then we'll kind of see. And that's fine. It's their decision."

Tarik Skubal basically just told Tigers fans he's definitely leaving in free agency at the end of 2026

Skubal isn't saying anything that Tigers fans didn't already believe, but for the player himself to put it in such certain terms is still disquieting. There were zero contract offers. There definitely won't be an offer.

As long as those pesky trade rumors don't crop back up (basically, as long as the Tigers are doing well by the trade deadline), there's no need for the Tigers to rush. If the whole arbitration saga was any indication, Skubal has already established that he's fully willing to buy into and participate in Scott Boras' bullish negotiation tactics.

Is there a world in which Skubal could push his value north of $400 million? If he wins his third consecutive Cy Young, it's possible. That's the possibility that Skubal is holding out for, and the Tigers must know that he won't be moved by any emotional appeal when he's set to be the top free agent on the 2026-27 market and is a member of MLBPA leadership.

It's disappointing, but is anyone surprised? Tigers fans knew this was where we'd be heading a long time ago.